California pushing for more rapid vaccine distribution CENTRAL COAST, Calif. (KION) California Governor Gavin Newsom acknowledged the slower than expected pace of getting out vaccines at a news conference Monday. He said the state is working on plans to accelerate the pace for administering vaccines. Here on the Central Coast, the first vaccines were administered locally about 3 weeks ago under the state's Phase 1A, which gives priority to health care workers. Phase 1A is broken up into three tiers. Health officials said Santa Cruz and Monterey County are almost through Tier 1, which includes heath care staff, long-term care residents and workers, and EMTs and paramedics. Now, they’re moving into Tier 2.