{"id":111700,"date":"2021-04-10T01:56:01","date_gmt":"2021-04-10T01:56:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fin2me.com\/?p=111700"},"modified":"2021-04-10T01:56:01","modified_gmt":"2021-04-10T01:56:01","slug":"in-california-more-counties-expand-vaccine-eligibility-but-are-there-enough-doses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fin2me.com\/business\/in-california-more-counties-expand-vaccine-eligibility-but-are-there-enough-doses\/","title":{"rendered":"In California: More counties expand vaccine eligibility, but are there enough doses?"},"content":{"rendered":"

I’m Winston Gieseke, philanthropy and special sections editor for The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, and boy, am\u00a0I glad it’s Friday. Let’s finish off this week with some of today’s top headlines from here in the Golden State.<\/p>\n

But first, on this day in history:\u00a0<\/strong>Actress Rita Moreno became the first Hispanic woman to win an Academy Award, which she won for her supporting role as Anita in “West Side Story.”\u00a0Today, the 89-year-old Moreno is one of 16\u00a0EGOT winners,\u00a0people who have won all four major entertainment awards \u2014 Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony \u2014 in competitive categories. (People like Barbra Streisand, who was awarded an honorary Tony, are not considered true EGOT winners.)<\/p>\n

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Rita Moreno poses with her Oscar and actor Rock Hudson after she was named best supporting actress of the year at the Academy Award Oscars at Santa Monica, Ca., on April 9, 1962. She won her award for best supporting actress for her part in the film West Side Story. (Photo: AP)<\/span><\/p>\n

In California brings you top Golden State stories and commentary from across the USA TODAY Network and beyond. Get it free, straight to your inbox.<\/em><\/p>\n

More counties expand vaccine eligibility to 16 and up, but will there be enough doses?<\/h3>\n

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Motorists sit inside their vehicles as they wait their turn to be inoculated with a COVID-19 vaccine at the California State University, Los Angeles campus in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 8, 2021. (Photo: AP Photo\/Damian Dovarganes)<\/span><\/p>\n

More California counties<\/strong> \u2014 including Santa Clara County in the San Francisco Bay Area and Fresno County in the Central Valley \u2014 are opening up COVID-19 vaccines to younger adults, a week ahead of the state’s plan to broaden eligibility to everyone aged 16 and up.\u00a0But will there be enough doses to go around?<\/p>\n

“The supply of COVID-19 vaccine has become more stable,\u201d said Joe Prado, who is heading up Fresno County\u2019s vaccinations. “We are able to move ahead of the (state) timeline and have been approved to lift the current restrictions in place to expand eligibility.”<\/p>\n

However,\u00a0that might not be the case next week when eligibility expands statewide.<\/p>\n

California has received about 2.4 million doses this week\u00a0and expects 2 million next week and 1.9 million the week after. This is in addition to vaccines shipped directly to pharmacies and community health centers from the federal government.<\/p>\n

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that the state of nearly 40 million will lift most pandemic restrictions June 15 provided hospitalization rates stay low and there is enough vaccine for everyone. It’s unclear if the drop in supply will affect California’s reopening date, although the governor\u2019s office said on social media that \u201cCA is on track to open safely 6\/15.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dodgers’ season off to a good start after victory in home opener<\/h3>\n

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Los Angeles Dodgers' Justin Turner (10) is congratulated by Max Muncy (13) after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Friday, April 9, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo\/Marcio Jose Sanchez) (Photo: The Associated Press)<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the Los Angeles Times, it’s been 18 months since the Dodgers have played in front of fans at Dodger Stadium. But in their home opener Friday, the team beat the Washington Nationals 1-0, thrilling the 15,000 socially-distanced fans who were allowed into the stadium.<\/p>\n

Justin Turner secured the win with a home run in the sixth inning. Last year, the third baseman made headlines after returning mask-free to the field to join a group photo\u00a0celebrating\u00a0the Dodgers’ World Series win, despite having been removed from the field earlier in the game following a positive COVID-19 test.<\/p>\n

California landlords and renters struggling financially\u00a0due to the\u00a0COVID-19 pandemic may qualify for a statewide program<\/h3>\n

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The $25 billion Emergency Rental Assistance Program distributed money to communities to help renters who have been financially impacted by the pandemic. (Photo: File)<\/span><\/p>\n

This week, CityServe launched its Eviction Prevention Starting Point,\u00a0which is designed to help qualifying residents navigate the COVID-19 Rent Relief program. In order to keep Californians housed, income-eligible households can apply for assistance to pay rent and utilities, both for past due and future payments.<\/p>\n

According to the CityServe website, step No. 1 is to request an application appointment. Step No. 2 is to attend the appointment at an application site with the required documents. Step No. 3 is to submit an application onsite with the guidance of a CityServe enroller.<\/p>\n

Here’s how the COVID-19 Rent Relief program works:<\/p>\n