CA vaccine supply expected to increase in matter of weeks, but challenges still lie ahead Share Updated: 6:45 AM PDT Mar 17, 2021 Share Updated: 6:45 AM PDT Mar 17, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript LISA KCRA 3’S STEPHANIE LIN CONNECTED WITH COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS IN OUR AREA AND HAS THIS REPORT. >> WE’RE MAKING PROGRESS. STEPHANIE: TODAY, GOVERNOR NEWSOM RESPONDING TO A NEW DIRECTIVE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TO MAKE EVERY AMERICAN OVER 18-YEARS-OLD ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID-19 VACCINE BY MAY 1. GOV. NEWSOM: THE ONLY CONSTRAINT? SUPPLY. WE’VE RECEIVED ONLY 341,000 DOSES OF J&J. WE WERE ANTICIPATING A LOT MORE THAN THAT BY NOW. STEPHANIE: A TEMPORARY ISSUE, ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR. GOV. NEWSOM: WE’RE GOING TO BE IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PLACE IN SIX OR SO WEEKS, AS WE SEE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN MANUFACTURED SUPPLY. STEPHANIE: COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS, CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC. >> IT MAKES ME EXCITED BUT IT ALSO MAKES ME ANXIOUS. STEPHANIE: YOLO COUNTY, BRACING ITSELF FOR THE SURGE IN DEMAND COME MAY. SO WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE BOTTLENECK HERE? >> JUST THE SUPPLY. WE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH. STEPHANIE: COUNTY OFFICIALS ADDING. DISTRIBUTION DELAYS AT THE MANUFACTURER, FEDERAL, AND STATE LEVELS COULD STILL BE A REALITY, EVEN IF ENOUGH VACCINE IS MANUFACTURED BY END OF MAY. SACRAMENTO COUNTY AL RESPONDING TO OUR OUTREACH. A SPOKESPERSON WRITING THAT, VACCINE ELIGIBILITY DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY EQUATE ACCESS TO AN APPOINTMENT, AS SACRAMENTO COUNTY’S SUPPLY IS STILL SHORT OF THE DEMAND. >> WE HAVE TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL ACTUALLY REGISTER. STEPHANIE: YUBA AND SUTTER COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH REPS SAYING, EVEN WITH ENOUGH VACCINE GETTING PEOPLE TO TRUST THE SHOT REMAINS A WORK IN PROGRESS. >> WE JUST NEED TO LET PEOPLE KNOW, IT’S A SAFE PROCESS, THE VACCINES ARE SAFE, NOT ONLY THAT THEY ARE PROTECTING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE. STEPHANIE: THE STATE CONFIRMIN WITH KCRA 3 TONIGHT, THAT FUTURE VACCINE ELIGIBILITY WILL BE SCREENED BY AGE GROUP. AND THE SIZE AND TIMING OF THAT GROUP WILL DEPEND ON INCOMING SUPP