The COVID-19 vaccination is finally here and California vaccination sites are starting to pop up across the state. It is no shock that California has been hit hard with COVID-19 cases since the start of its widespread — as of January 19, California surpassed a total of 3 million coronavirus cases, and on January 24, California had a total of seven hundred and forty deaths due to COVID-19. Needless to say, the state of California is anxious to get those who are willing and able vaccinated in order to diminish the soaring number of cases and deaths. Kyndal Prahl (12) expresses, “I am eager to get the vaccination because [the vaccine] is very safe and… builds antibodies in your body. I also think this is a big step in the future for healthcare.”

The question still remains: can I get vaccinated today? Well, according to the National Academy of Sciences Prioritization, “Given the limited initial supply of COVID-19 vaccines, distribution will be limited at first and increase over time. Determinations will be based on reaching critical populations to reduce morbidity and mortality rates due to the transmission of COVID-19.” Therefore, the Orange County Health Care Agency has declared that the COVID-19 vaccination distribution will be delivered through phases. So, as of now, Orange County is in Phase 1A, and only people aged sixty-five or older and healthcare workers are able to get vaccinated today. 

Another question people are still speculating over is how they can get their COVID-19 vaccination. Depending on whether or not you call into Phase 1A (Critical and Healthcare Workers) it may take longer for you to actually receive the vaccination. Nevertheless, anyone can still register online to be vaccinated through www.Othena.com. From there, you will have to complete the COVID-19 Vaccination Pre-screening Questionnaire. 

Lastly, a lot of people are questioning where they can get the vaccine if they are qualified. According to the Orange County Health Care Agency, healthcare systems, and hospitals are organizing COVID-19 vaccine clinics, pharmacies such as Walgreens and CVS are offering onsite COVID-19 shots, community health centers, and other independent pharmacies are distributing vaccinations, and the OC Health Care Agency is establishing SuperPOD sites across the Orange County Region –there are currently two SuperPOD sites, one at Soka University and another located at the Disneyland Resort parking lot. 

During this time of uncertainty, it is important to remain as up-to-date as possible. For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine and the distribution, plan to visit ocgov.com.