Some Bay Area counties have wrestled back control of vaccine distribution with the latest agreement between the state, the counties and the middleman, Blue Shield.
County officials have complained from the start that the state’s $15 million management contract with Blue Shield was too rigid, not always reliable and infringed on local control.
There were also complaints of bugs in the My Turn website that determines eligibility for vaccinations.
Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez complained that Blue Shield could cut the flow of vaccines to some of the most critical community clinics.
“What we’re asking is to keep that partnership alive, so that at the local level we have the ability to meet the needs of every single member of our community,” she said.
Santa Clara County on Wednesday modified its agreement with Blue Shield, and other Bay Area counties are expected to follow suit.
The county will continue with its own vaccine registration program rather than My Turn. That should guarantee the continued flow of vaccines to some of the hardest hit communities, including Gilroy and East San Jose.
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