WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (KGO) — As COVID-19 cases surge in California, the quest to get a vaccine for those who want one is becoming confusing and chaotic, and in some cases extremely difficult.
Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration narrowed approval of the new, updated COVID-19 vaccines only to people who are over 65, or younger people with underlying conditions that put them at higher risk for severe disease.
“We see that in visits to urgent care centers, emergency rooms,” said Dr. John Swartzberg, an expert in infectious disease and vaccinology at UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health. He’s says if someone under 65 wants to get a vaccine right now, it can turn into quite an ordeal.
Video in the media player above is from a previous update
“There’s tremendous confusion about vaccines right now. It’s really chaotic,” he said.
“Doctors are confused, pharmacists are confused, the companies that run pharmacies are confused, so this is a real mess,” said Dr. Swartzberg.
MORE: FDA says healthy people can still get COVID-19 vaccine but access might be complicated
ABC7’s Leslie Brinkley went into a pharmacy in Walnut Creek advertising free walk-in COVID-19 shots and checked-in at the counter.
Yes, shots were available.
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Some insurance companies cover the vaccines, and some like Kaiser are still reviewing their protocol in administering the shots, as of Tuesday afternoon.
But Kaiser sent a statement (see below) to ABC7 on Wednesday evening, when this story was published, that it will provide COVID-19 vaccines “to all Kaiser members 6 months and older at no cost.”
“Anecdotally, some pharmacists are giving the COVID vaccines, no questions asked. Some are refusing to without a doctor’s note or even a prescription,” Dr. Swartzberg added.
“If you wanted to get vaccinated, if you want to get protected for any reason and a pharmacist turns you down go somewhere else. You’ll likely find a pharmacist who will do that,” he noted.
MORE: FDA approves updated COVID-19 shots but limits access for some kids and adults
The FDA’s broad list of vaccine qualifying categories now includes things like feeling depressed or being overweight.
“So look very carefully at all the things there. A lot of people, I imagine most people, find something they would fit under.”
As for the future vaccine of availability?
“I think the alliance that California, Oregon and Washington and Hawaii have put together is going to be very helpful in terms of getting rid of a lot of this confusion. And also some leverage with insurance companies to make sure the insurance companies pay for it,” Dr. Swartzberg said.
The American Academy of Family Physicians is advising all adults to get immunized.
Here is Kaiser Permanente’s full statement sent to ABC7 Wednesday evening:
“Kaiser Permanente is making the new COVID-19 vaccine available to all our members 6 months and older at no cost. We are receiving vaccine supply from the manufacturers and will provide vaccines beginning September 15. Kaiser Permanente’s administration of the COVID-19 vaccine is based on the latest scientific evidence and clinical guidance from our physician experts and many other sources, including leading medical societies. Vaccination remains one of the safest and most effective ways to help protect against severe illness. Kaiser Permanente is also offering flu vaccination. Members should go to kp.org/covidvaccine and kp.org/flu for more information.”
ABC News contributed to this report
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