Kaiser Permanente says it is not yet able to give COVID-19 vaccinations to all seniors under the age of 75, due to a lack of supply.
On the heels of the federal government and then the state expanding vaccine eligibility to people 65 and over, the health care giant opened up its phone lines last week for seniors to make vaccination appointments. But slots for those under 75 were only briefly available, according to the company, as the limited supply has forced it to prioritize older seniors, along with continuing to vaccinate health care workers.
Vaccine supply permitting, the company expects to honor existing appointments made by those under 75 when they were available.
Members should no longer attempt to proactively make vaccine appointments, the company says.
"There is no need for members to contact us by email, phone, or on the website until they first hear from us," Kaiser said.
With more than 1.5 million members age 65 and older, Kaiser received a first-dose vaccine supply last week of just 20,000 doses, it said.
"At the current rate, we are looking at vaccine distribution that is much slower than any of us find acceptable," a company statement said. "We are doing all we can to get additional vaccine supply as soon as possible."
Kaiser says that as of Jan. 16, it had administered more than 170,000 doses in California, including the second shots that people must receive to complete their inoculation.
—Polly Stryker and Jon Brooks