None of the Bay Areaâs county health departments have signed onto participate in Blue Shield of Californiaâs vaccine network, a state-funded agreement designed to speed up vaccine distribution.
Officials have pressed all the counties to join, but so far only nine counties and one city have opted-in. Bay Area public health officials and lawmakers have questioned whether the health provider should be coordinating the stateâs vaccine distribution.
One sticking point with the agreement between the insurer and the state is that it prevents counties from sharing vaccines with community clinic partners.
Dr. Jeff Smith, the county executive for Santa Clara County, said during a Board of Supervisors meeting last week that the stipulation is a non-starter.
âSanta Clara County, and a number of other counties, made it clear that the current version of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) was not acceptable because it precluded the operations the way that we currently do them â sharing vaccine with our community clinic partners,â Smith said. âWe think that’s a critically important issue.â
Smith told the supervisors that negotiations with the state are ongoing and he’s hopeful for an agreement with more flexibility.
Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Kern, Kings, Lake, Shasta, Siskiyou and Ventura counties have signed onto the MOU, as well as, the city of Long Beach.
â Kevin Stark
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