Thousands of people who were expecting to be vaccinated at a new site in Rohnert Park have had their appointments rescheduled or canceled altogether.
One major issue is the OptumServe website used to make appointments was allowing anyone aged 65 or older to register, which is fine by state regulations but not Sonoma County's, which has set its own age cutoff of 75 and older.
"Sorry to the thousands of people who were confused and disappointed with the events of the last few days," said Supervisor Chris Coursey. "That was certainly not our intent to confuse or disappoint anyone."
That was not the only issue.
"Many people were allowed to schedule second doses too soon after their first dose, another glitch. Some were scheduling their second appointment just a week after the first," said Coursey.
Pfizer’s vaccine regimen requires patients to wait 21 days and Moderna requires a 28-day lag.
Coursey said that while these issues are being addressed, this likely will not be the only hiccup as the county works to get vaccines to people who need it most.
"I do know that a lot of folks made this mistake in good faith," said Board of Supervisors Chair Lynda Hopkins. "My heart goes out to them, to think that you have this hope and then to have it taken away is very difficult emotionally."
Hopkins said that many people have been trying to go through the county first to get a vaccine, but many large healthcare providers and hospitals have their own supply.
"I’m also hopeful that those partners will step up and start communicating with them frequently and start letting them know when it’s their turn to sign up through their health care homes."
That should help ease some of the demand on county-run vaccination sites.
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