State officials announced Wednesday that people 65 and older will now be prioritized for the COVID-19 vaccine, in the hopes of increasing distribution to those at higher risk of hospitalization.
âWith our hospitals crowded and ICUs full, we need to focus on vaccinating Californians who are at highest risk of becoming hospitalized to alleviate stress on our health care facilities,â said Dr. Tomás Aragón, Director of the California Department of Public Health and the state’s public health officer in a press release. âPrioritizing individuals age 65 and older will reduce hospitalizations and save lives.â
Coronavirus cases and deaths continue to climb in California, with the state crossing a threshold of more than 30,000 deaths from the virus this week.
People in the top tier to receive the vaccine — health care workers and long-term care residents — will still be able to.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has come under scrutiny for whatâs largely viewed as a slow vaccine rollout across the state.
Newsom also announced a new notification system Wednesday that will alert people by email or text when they are eligible to get vaccinated. Thatâs expected to launch next week.
â Laura Klivans (@lauraklivans)
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