![]() Union Station is the region’s busiest and most important transit center, with more than 100,000 people using the station during an average weekday prior to the pandemic. The Union Station vaccination site launched June 8 and will operate Monday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. “And I think with all of the various messaging around the vaccine and the rollout and who qualifies and who doesn't, what sometimes does get lost is those very precise, detailed instructions that I think people come to rely on when they're trying to set up an appointment.The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has partnered with the City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Fire Department to open a free, public vaccination site at Union Station six days a week, making it the fifth site opened on the Metro public transit system. “I've spoken with people who have said, ‘I was really confused, and I put a call out on Twitter, and a random stranger helps me lock down an appointment because I just wasn't sure where to even begin,’” Shalby says. ![]() But sites run by Kaiser or Carbon Health may show tons of appointments. Many people have struggled with navigating the state’s relatively new site, MyTurn, and may find no appointments available there. Vaccine access also varies depending on which website you use to book appointments. But on the other hand, you don't want the vaccine to go to waste.” On the one hand, people who are most eligible are able to get the vaccine. “The messaging has been conflicting at times. She points out that a big issue here is ensuring vaccines are not wasted, that these limited supplies are getting into people’s arms. So if someone does try to get ahead in line, it's really unclear what happens at that point,” says Shalby. But at this point, there's no concrete policing happening. And so this, again, is a bit of that gray space that we're in, where the state is really relying on this honor system. trying to get in front of the line when they may not qualify. “There hasn't been detailed explanation of how they're going to prevent people from. However, what’s stopping a West LA resident from driving to Crenshaw to get their shot? The state is also allocating 40% of vaccines to underserved communities. People are also relying on their own doctors to point them to the best spaces for vaccines. Shalby points out that pop-up vaccine clinics are appearing in various communities that might be easier to reach, especially for people who don’t have cars. However, she says advocates, especially in the disability rights community, have been pushing for a verification process that “doesn’t force people to jump through hoops” and prioritizes those who are less mobile. And fraud is definitely a possibility with this looser verification process.” We've seen some fraudulent behavior, or people have tried to use forged documents to jump ahead in that line. “We've definitely seen line jumping in the past. You can bring documentation with you, but it's not required right now by the state,” says Shalby.ĭoes that mean unqualified people are making appointments and getting vaccines? But you don't have to show extensive paperwork, you don't have to show a doctor's note. “You can sign a self attestation form, basically saying that you meet the criteria of eligibility. When people do sign up for a vaccine, they don’t have to show much proof, if any. People have struggled to navigate the website MyTurn, where Californians are supposed to sign up for a shot. However, getting an appointment has been difficult. So it has created a bit of ongoing confusion.” There were others that have type one diabetes that weren't included in that language initially, but type two diabetes were. “I've heard from people, for instance, who have asthma who aren't completely sure if they qualify right now. That’s according to LA Times reporter Colleen Shalby. However, there are many gray areas, with subjective language from the state saying that if you have a condition putting you at higher risk of COVID-19, you should still be eligible. The state opened up appointments for people with underlying health conditions and disabilities on Monday. Nearly 4.5 million Californians are newly eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.
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