Launching the vaccine in Riverside County is hampered by ineligible people who sign up for an appointment, health officials said

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) – The line of healthcare professionals and those qualified for the COVID-19 vaccine enveloped the block in front of a Riverside clinic on Wednesday morning. Some people said they had to wait more than an hour and a half.

“What’s the use of making an appointment if we all have to wait in this queue,” said a Temecula resident whose mother tried to sign up for an online consultation, only to learn she was put on a waiting list and had to register again later. .

“It seems to be a continuous narrative that goes from the federal to the state government to the local government, simply being ill-equipped and ill-prepared to deal with this pandemic,” added the Temecula resident.

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

“As vaccine clinics are opening, we’re putting people on these slots that don’t qualify,” said Dr. Geoffrey Leung, of the University of Riverside Health System.

Riverside County is increasing the availability of the vaccine, as the state of California has already made anyone 65 and older eligible for it. This afternoon, county health officials announced the opening of clinics in places like Corona High School. These units will offer vaccines only by appointment, which should be done on the vaccine distribution website in the municipality.

But Dr. Leung said that partnerships with pharmacies will be needed to make the vaccine more widely available.

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“We think that the only way to vaccinate people in such a short period of time is with everyone’s help and partnership,” said Leung.

In the meantime, pharmacies say they are ready to help distribute the vaccine more widely. Many pharmacies in California will receive their first shipments of the vaccine on Thursday.

“There is a pharmacy less than five miles from 90% of Americans,” said Steve Anderson, president of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. “Pharmacies are capable of meeting the demand for 100 million doses of vaccines in just one month.”