Governor Gavin Newsom
announced sweeping changes to vaccine eligibility based
on expected supply increases. Starting April 1, vaccine
eligibility will expand to all Californians ages 50+. On
April 15, eligibility expands broadly to all Californians ages
16+.
Based on the current estimates, California expects to be
allocated approximately 2.5 million first and second doses per
week in the first half of April, and more than 3 million doses in
the second half of April. California currently receives about 1.8
million doses per week. These estimates may be adjusted as time
goes on. The state has the capacity to administer more than
3 million vaccines per week and is building the capacity to
administer 4 million vaccines weekly by the end of April.
The announcement came with a number of additional changes,
including guidance that currently eligible populations will
be prioritized for vaccines and providers will be allowed
additional discretion in vaccinating those who live in
high-impact areas (County Healthy Places Index Quartiles 1
and 2), including families.
Along with the expanded eligibility and to align with upcoming
federal guidance, California will update its vaccine allocation
methodology. This will transition over four weeks, beginning with
the March 22 allocation (delivered to providers the following
week), from one based on the distribution of the 65+ population,
workers in the agriculture and food, education and child care,
and emergency services sectors to one based on the distribution
of the 16+ population across California. This will be done in
conjunction with the completion of the shift to the state
directly allocating vaccines to providers. The state will
continue to double the amount of vaccine allocated to the lowest
Healthy Places Index (HPI) quartile as announced on March 4.
