After much anticipation, Coachella Valley residents have been experiencing an understandable mix of excitement and confusion over the coronavirus vaccine. An appointment is required for getting vaccinated, and vaccinations are now available to a more extensive group of people. According to Dr. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, those under eighteen will likely not be able to become vaccinated until late spring or summer of 2021.
In Riverside County, the website necessary for obtaining vaccine appointments has caused some difficulty. Overloaded with traction, the site glitched in late January and was unusable for some. An error message flashed across the screen, reappearing even when the page was reloaded, leaving people helpless. This meant that some of the valley’s most vulnerable individuals were denied access to the vaccine, as some people with a lesser risk were able to easily make their appointments. A new website was created, resolving this problem. However, signing up for an appointment has still caused issues for some. Time slots for appointments are quickly filled, often within a matter of minutes.
The amount of vaccines held by California and Riverside County is also a topic of concern. The county has a little over 100,000 vaccines at its disposal, but there are around 700,000 residents who are currently eligible for the vaccine. There is not enough supply to meet the demand.