Just as demand for booster shots is surging ahead of the holidays, multiple Bay Area vaccination clinics have been forced to close their doors.
The free vaccination and testing site near Oakland City Hall, which was supposed to be open through the end of the year, shut down early this week, automatically canceling important booster shot appointments.
"I made my appointment on December sixth and it was canceled immediately," a frustrated East Bay resident said.
Michael Hunt with the Oakland Fire Department told KCBS Radio that the clinic’s closure is due to a shortage of both staff and vaccines, calling the circumstance a shame.
"The city is disappointed to see that this came to a conclusion a little bit earlier than we expected, especially as we head into the holidays," Hunt said.
However, the operators of the COVID-19 clinic told a different story, explaining that the closure is because of a leasing issue with the city.
A second vaccination clinic at the San Mateo Medical Center was also forced to temporarily close this week due to a staffing shortage.
COVID-19 boosters are still widely available for East Bay residents. La Clinica Fruitvale Village near Fruitvale BART Station is now open for appointments.
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