Riverside County vaccine deployment hampered by ineligible people signing up for the appointment, health officials say

RIVERSIDE, California (KABC): The line of health workers and those eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine wrapped around the block in front of a Riverside clinic Wednesday morning. Some people said they had to wait more than an hour and a half.

“What’s the point of making an appointment if we all have to wait on that line?” Said a Temecula resident, whose mother tried to sign up for an online appointment, was only told she was on the list of ‘waiting and to be re-registered later.

“It seems to be an ongoing narrative that goes from the federal government to the state and the local government is just ill-equipped and unprepared to handle this pandemic,” the Temecula resident added.

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Part of the problem, according to Riverside County public health officials, is that many who actually signed up online were not eligible based on the current level.

“As vaccine clinics open, we get people to access time slots that don’t meet the requirements,” said Dr. Geoffrey Leung, of the University of Riverside Health System.

Riverside County is increasing the availability of vaccines, as the state of California has made people eligible for this person over the age of 65. This afternoon, county health officials have announced clinics at places like Corona High School starting Thursday. These facilities will offer vaccines by appointment only, which must be made on the county’s vaccine distribution website.

But Dr. Leung said it will be necessary to work with pharmacies to make the vaccine more widely available.

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“We believe that the only way we will be able to vaccinate people in such a short period of time is with the help and partnership of everyone,” Leung said.

Meanwhile, pharmacies say they are prepared to help distribute the vaccine more widely. Many California pharmacies will receive the first shipments of the vaccine on Thursday.

“There’s a pharmacy less than five miles from 90% of Americans,” said Steve Anderson, president of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. “Pharmacies have the capacity to meet demand for 100 million doses of vaccine in just one month.”