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As State Expands Vaccine Eligibility, San Diego Still Sees Shortages

A COVID-19 vaccine is drawn at the vaccination site at CSU San Marcos. Feb. 22, 2021.
Roland Lizarondo
A COVID-19 vaccine is drawn at the vaccination site at CSU San Marcos. Feb. 22, 2021.

COVID-19 vaccines will be made available to everyone in the state age 50 and older beginning April 1, then to everyone age 16 and up on April 15, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced, as San Diego County public health officials reported 210 new infections and 11 deaths.

The state has been receiving roughly 1.8 million doses a week, but anticipates receiving 2.5 million weekly doses by early April, then more than 3 million per week by the end of that month.

Newsom on Thursday said the state will have the capacity to administer 4 million shots per week by the end of April.

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RELATED: California To Open Vaccinations To Everyone 16 And Older

San Diego County continues to have significantly more capacity to administer vaccines than supplies available. According to Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, even with the closure of the Petco Park vaccine site, the county has the ability to administer 35,000 vaccines every day. Limited doses mean the actual number being injected is around 12,000 per day.

Health officials on Thursday reported more than 839,000 people -- or 31.2% of San Diego County residents over the age of 16 -- have received at least one dose of the two-shot vaccines, and more than 510,000 people -- or 19% -- have been fully vaccinated.

More than 1.59 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been delivered to the region, and more than 1.5 million have been logged as administered. That number includes both county residents and those who work in San Diego County.

Thursday's data from the Health and Human Service Agency increased the county's cumulative totals to 268,627 cases and 3,520 deaths.

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Of 17,596 tests reported Thursday, 1% returned positive. The 14-day rolling average of positive tests is 2.5%.

The number of coronavirus hospitalizations in the county decreased Thursday to 217, from the previous day's 227. Of those, 75 were in intensive care units, down from Wednesday's 82.