Calif. expands vaccine eligibility

More counties allow shots for 16 and up

SANFRANCISCO— More California counties are opening up vaccines to younger adults, a week ahead of the state broadening eligibility to everyone 16 and up.

California public health officials on Thursday warned of decreases in supply because of a national reduction of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine in coming weeks.

The state has received about

2.4 million doses this week, but it expects 2 million next week and

1.9 million doses the week after. This is in addition to vaccine shipped directly to pharmacies and community health centers from the federal government.

Santa Clara County in the San Francisco Bay Area and Fresno County in the central valley are the latest to open up vaccinations to everyone eligible to get one. People age 16 and up can get the Pfizer vaccine while the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are for people 18 and older.

“The supply of COVID-19 vaccine has become more stable. We are able to move ahead of the (state) timeline and have been approved to lift the current restrictions in place to expand eligibility,” said Joe Prado, who is heading up Fresno County’s vaccinations.

That might not be the case next

week when eligibility expands statewide and vaccine supply shrinks.

But this week, availability remains mixed, with some places reporting an excess of open appointments. In other developments:

■ Drug giant Pfizer and its partner in developing the first COVID-19 vaccine that received emergency authorization in the U.S. want to allow more adolescents to receive the vaccine.

■ Health officials say New Mexico is moving faster than any state in the U.S. toward herd immunity, with

one-third of adult residents now fully vaccinated.

■ Duke University will require all new and returning students to present proof of vaccination to student health officials before they can enroll for the fall semester.

■ Last call is coming later at New Orleans bars. The city announced Friday that bars and restaurants in the city can sell alcoholic beverages until 1 a.m.

■ The Hollywood Bowl will reopen for the 2021 season with a limited-capacity audience.

Damian Dovarganes The Associated Press People wait to be inoculated with a COVID-19 vaccine at California State University, Los Angeles on Thursday. The site was forced to turn people away because of demand.