It was the moment tens of thousands of rural residents had been waiting for since the pandemic began – the first doses of the coronavirus vaccine were available to people other than frontline health professionals.
People over 65, teachers, grocery workers and others can apply for a vaccination to be given on Thursday, January 14, Riverside County officials announced late Wednesday afternoon. And they signed up, en masse.
For many, the relief did not last much longer than a moment.
Riverside County spokeswoman Brooke Federico said that three hours after residents were able to apply for the COVID-19 vaccines, all 5,600 appointments for the next few days were canceled.
This left people like Cathedral City’s Jean Scott constantly updating the appointment page, not knowing why she was unable to display the appointment calendar.
“I am immunosuppressed and I have to work or lose the health insurance that keeps my family and me functioning, so I am desperate to get the vaccine,” said Scott, who will turn 65 in February. “I would still walk away from all the seniors in the system, but why did the governor say it was being opened to people over 65?”
Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Thursday that counties could start offering the vaccine to anyone over the age of 65 and, until clarified, many thought it meant it would be available across the state. Riverside County gave its first injections to seniors who only qualified because of age on Thursday, including at a Corona High School clinic. Shortly after 5 pm on Thursday, San Bernardino County authorities announced that people over 65 would qualify in their county.
Others, like Wes Stonebreaker, who lives in Riverside, completed the steps to schedule a vaccine only to find that everything was reserved. He clicked on the dates on the pharmacy calendar until 2025, trying unsuccessfully to find a spot.
“I understand how difficult the task of vaccinating us is, but our responsible employees need to know when the current approach is not working,” said Stonebreaker.
While many have expressed frustration that they are unable to make an appointment, do not know how to make an appointment, or are calling an unanswered phone number, there are now 5,600 people who have signed up for vaccines.
This is important for people like Cheryl Tavaglione, 67, said her daughter, Dawn Lombardi, who saw the link tweeted by Dr. Cameron Kasier, county public health officer, and had no problem enrolling his mother.
“She is usually very active and the past 10 months have been very challenging for her,” said Lombardi. “Fortunately, she took COVID very seriously and dramatically limited her risks. I can’t believe the relief I felt when the appointment was made for her. “
Riverside County opened eight initial clinics between Thursday and Sunday, January 17, to implement an expanded vaccination effort. Authorities said 700 consultations were available at each clinic.
San Bernardino County has posted links to state-run test facilities in the county, but so far, only frontline medical workers have been vaccinated. This means that hospitals – not the county – have been the main drivers of vaccines as the county prepares for future steps, said spokesman David Wert.
Wert said the state’s vaccines are scary, so consultations are limited, but county residents age 65 and older can make appointments online by visiting: https://sbcovid19.com/vaccine/.
Seniors can also sign up for e-mail and text notifications to receive alerts about vaccination opportunities and other vaccination news via the link “Registration for notification of vaccines over 65 years old” at: https://sbcovid19.com / vaccine /.
Those who need help scheduling appointments or signing up for notifications can call the COVID-19 hotline, from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, by calling 909-387-3911, he said.
Distribution options will soon include mobile vaccination units to meet residents with travel challenges, including senior citizens and residents in remote areas, community vaccination sites and mass vaccination centers, he said.
In Riverside County, spokeswoman Federico said some clinics were scheduled within 90 minutes.
“Interest and demand for vaccines in the community exists,” she said. “We are happy to see that so many members of the community want the vaccine.”
Federico said the county hopes to announce additional clinics within a few days. She asked people to watch the county’s vaccine panel page for the latest developments at ruhealth.org/covid-19-vaccine.
Federico asked for patience.
“We are working hard to open more vaccine clinics so that more vaccines can be made available,” she said.
Expanding the eligibility of those who can stand a chance is a daunting challenge, said Federico, as Riverside County has about 343,000 seniors.
“Massive implementation of vaccines of this nature is a complex process,” she said.
The county website reported on Thursday that Riverside County received 158,850 doses of the vaccine and 114,825 doses. The county said it had given 33,405 vaccines, a number that Federico said was three days late and did not include vaccine residents received in other counties through employers.
Riverside resident Mike McCoy was “extremely angry” after trying unsuccessfully on Wednesday night to make an online appointment for his 91-year-old mother, Gloria McCoy, who lives in a Banning retirement community.
Mike McCoy said he worked several pages of questions, providing personal information about his mother, only to discover after finishing that a clinic was already booked. He hoped his mother would have a chance at a Beaumont high school near his home.
The county should have noticed the clinic was packed before he wasted time trying to register, said Mike McCoy.
Federico said that on Thursday morning, authorities removed online registration links and marked each clinic as “COMPLETE”.
McCoy said that a phone number provided to the Riverside County Aging Department, designed to help seniors make appointments, did not work.
“Horrible way to treat our elderly,” he wrote by email. “They need to cut red tape and organize.”
Several attempts to call that phone number – listed as 800-510-2020 – failed on Thursday afternoon. A recording said: “Sorry, the number you called is busy. Please try again later.”
The number is correct, but it has been overwhelmed by calls, Federico said.
“We are asking people to be patient with the process,” she said.
McCoy said his mother is at high risk for viruses due to her age, although she lives alone and takes care of herself. He made a point of buying her supplies or having them delivered and hoped to get her protection.
He criticized the county’s online nomination process, saying his mother doesn’t know how to surf the Internet.
“My mom doesn’t even have a computer,” he said, adding that online appointments are “an impossible scenario” for many seniors.
McCoy said the county “had a lot of time to anticipate this” and should have better prepared its distribution of vaccines for the elderly.
Sean Robinson, a government professor at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Eastvale, said he applied for the vaccine as early as possible to demonstrate to students and their families that it is safe and effective.
“I intend to tell my students that the process was orderly, that my side effects were mild to nonexistent (I hope) and that the vaccines are incredible,” said Robinson, a 37-year-old Norco resident. “I intend to encourage them to have a positive view of vaccines so that they can spread the word and encourage others to get vaccinated.”
HOW TO GET THE VACCINE
Riverside County Appointments: https://www.ruhealth.org/covid-19-vaccine
Appointments in San Bernardino County: https://sbcovid19.com/vaccine/
Information about who is eligible is available on these sites.
Help with appointments or sign up for notifications: Direct line COVID-19 from San Bernardino County, 909-387-3911, from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. In Riverside County, those over the age of 65 can call the Riverside County Aging Office at 800-510-2020 or 2-1-1.
Details: Places can be booked, but are spread across both counties. You must live or work in a county to receive the vaccine.