It was the news that many Californians have been waiting for.
“So in just a few weeks there’d be no rules, no limitations as it relates to the ability to get a vaccine,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom, announcing on Thursday that starting April 1, everyone age 50 and up will be eligible for the vaccine with eligibility expanding to everyone 16 and older on April 15.
But given how limited the vaccine supply has been, medical experts are split on whether or not the guidelines are realistic.
Dr. Monica Gandhi, professor of medicine at UCSF and an expert on infectious diseases says she believes the supply has improved enough to support it.
“(The U.S.) had purchased Moderna, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, 100 million. We had put things into place to make them have higher supply… and it looks like the floodgates are opening with supply.”
But not everyone agrees.
“We know there are people who are eligible now who are still having difficulty getting appointments. So I think that it’s going to be very frustrating for the next few weeks,” said Dr. Christopher Longhurst, associate chief medical officer at UC San Diego.
“I think in a month or two vaccine supply should be much greater and this will make more sense. But I think right now we’re really increasing demand without increased supply.”
More than 11 million people have been partially or fully vaccinated in California so far, which is about 33% of people aged 16 and up.