Lack of COVID-19 Vaccines Represents a Challenge for LA
March 30, 2021
Appointments for COVID-19 vaccines are still sparse in Los Angeles County, with several spaces reserved for second doses and authorities struggling with a supply shortage. As stated by the LA Times:
"L.A. COVID-19 Vaccine Supply Crunch Makes Getting the First Shot a Continued Challenge", officials say that only about 44% of the 280,000 doses would be sufficient for first shots of March, but at city-run sites such as San Fernando Park, Hansen Dam, Crenshaw Christian Center, Lincoln Park, Pierce College, USC University Park, and Dodger Stadium, the bottleneck is not projected to be nearly as serious.
Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a statement that every Angeleno vaccinated brings people closer to reopening the markets, having kids back in the classroom, and returning to the embrace of family and friends. Two COVID-19 vaccines now in use in the United States, from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, require two doses separated by weeks. As a result, health authorities have had to strike a balance for months between the need to vaccinate as many patients as possible, as soon as possible, and ensuring that there will be enough vaccines to fulfill the two-shot regimen.
County Public Health Chief Barbara Ferrer says the current shortage of vaccinations has hampered the efforts, and that usable appointments are now filling up within hours of being released. This situation is unlikely to improve as long as doses are scarce. She also said that there are around 5.5 million residents in Los Angeles County who are registered for vaccination, and the majority of them would need two doses. Health authorities, on the other hand, are grateful that so many people are interested in being vaccinated.
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L.A. COVID-19 Vaccine Supply Crunch Makes Getting the First Shot a Continued Challenge.
