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California expands who can get a Covid-19 vaccine. But some counties say they don't have enough supply

January 14, 2021. Summarized by summa-bot.

Compression ratio: 57.4%. 2 min read.

Los Angeles, CA - January 07: Nurse Yolanda Javier, left, gives a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to Bonita Brisco at St. John's Well Child & Family Center on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021 in Los Angeles, CA. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

California adults 65 and older are now eligible to get the Covid-19 vaccine, state officials announced Wednesday in a bid to boost the number of people who receive a shot, even as demand "continues to far exceed supply."

(CNN)California adults 65 and older are now eligible to get the Covid-19 vaccine, state officials announced Wednesday in a bid to boost the number of people who receive a shot, even as demand "continues to far exceed supply. "

But in Los Angeles County, seniors won't be allowed to receive shots until the county's health care workers are vaccinated -- a process that's expected to stretch into February -- said Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer, citing supply shortages.

"Neither the state nor us is wanting to divert the strategy to get health care workers vaccinated," Ferrer said Wednesday during a virtual briefing.

In Santa Clara County, short supply meant the county's health system was open Wednesday for vaccinations only for people 75 and older, in addition to health care workers and long-term care facility residents, officials there said.

County health officials reported more than 194,000 first doses of the vaccine had been administered to people in Phase 1A -- health care workers and long-term care facility residents -- and they were preparing to ramp up vaccine capacity for 500,000 frontline health care workers.

"As the County completes Phase 1A, we can look to starting vaccinations for groups within next phase -- 1B, starting with those who are 65 and older as noted by the Governor today," the release said.

In Santa Clara County, the health system was open Wednesday for vaccinations for people 75 and older, in addition to people in Phase 1A, officials there said.

"We are constrained by the vaccine supply that we have available here locally," County Counsel James Williams said during a news conference.

County officials hope to be able to vaccinate residents 65 and older "as soon as we get more vaccine supply here locally," Williams added.

The county requested 100,000 more vaccine doses, but the state only authorized an additional 6,000, he said.

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