Scripps CEO Wants Simpler COVID-19 Vaccine Process, More Vaccines

Friday, January 15, 2021

Credit: County of San Diego

Above: A health care worker getting vaccinated for COVID-19 at the Petco Park, San Diego County vaccination super station, on Jan. 11, 2021.

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If he had his way, Scripps health CEO Chris Van Gorder would simplify the process of dispensing Covid-19 vaccines -- and actually have the vaccines to dispense.

Aired: January 15, 2021 | Transcript

If he had his way, Scripps health CEO Chris Van Gorder would simplify the process of dispensing Covid-19 vaccines — and actually have the vaccines to dispense.

Aired: January 18, 2021 | Transcript

In an interview with KPBS News health reporter Tarryn Mento on Thursday, Scripps CEO Chris Van Gorder acknowledged the challenging environment that health care providers are navigating during the pandemic.

When California Governor Gavin Newsom announced this week that health care providers could start vaccinating all persons aged 65 and up, Van Gorder said he knew two things for certain: thousands of people in that age group would call their providers to schedule a vaccination, and providers had no vaccines to give them.

Van Gorder expressed the wish for a simpler process to dispense vaccines once more are available. He noted that Scripps and other providers can comb their records for age and health risk factors, but they are stymied when the criteria include job categories.

Van Gorder said when he talked to state legislators days ago about changing vaccine protocols, they were sympathetic.