Governor Gavin Newsom announced Thursday all adults will be eligible to schedule COVID-19 vaccinations starting April 15. But some California counties with smaller populations are ahead of schedule.
In Lassen County – population 29,000 – health officials expanded coronavirus vaccine eligibility to any resident 18 years or older on March 17.
Barbara Longo, the county’s director of health and social services, says officials felt confident with their efforts offering vaccines to the most vulnerable populations and prioritized groups.
It was time to open the gates to the general public.
“We’re also very cognizant that there are variants out there, which means they might have a higher chance of transmission,” she said. “And that’s why we feel it’s also very important to escalate the vaccination schedule.”
Longo says the county isn’t feeling overwhelmed by new demand. At a recent large drive-thru clinic, more than 1,000 people were vaccinated. Another mass clinic is scheduled for April 14.
Other small counties near Lake Tahoe – such as Alpine and Sierra counties – also say they’ve expanded eligibility to any adult who wants a vaccine.