More than 80,000 vaccines have been given in Anaheim, with the number growing each day.
That's out of nearly 300,000 given across Orange County, including second shots for two-dose vaccinations from Moderna and Pfizer.
Each day, we administer some 5,000 vaccines at the Anaheim Super POD at Disneyland Resort.
We know they can't come fast enough, particularly for those looking to vaccinate an elderly loved one.
We are seeing progress each day as we work through the current eligible group, known as Phase 1A.
It includes healthcare workers, first responders, nursing home residents and those 65 and older. You also must live or work in Orange County to be vaccinated at a county site.
We are a few weeks away from finishing vaccinations for those in Phase 1A.
From there, barring any changes in how California administers vaccines, we would move on to Phase 1B, which includes teachers, food workers, those in transportation, construction, building management, critical manufacturing and others.
The Anaheim Super POD continues to improve each day with operational upgrades and accommodations for seniors and others who need extra help.
We know the county's Othena appointment system has presented its share of challenges. We're seeing improvement there, too.
The system is now making appointments for those who completed the online registration about two weeks earlier.
And the app is now available in Spanish.
If you received your first dose, you will automatically be scheduled for your second dose in Othena. Find your date and time by logging in to your Othena account online or on the app.
We thank everyone for their patience. While vaccine supplies are steady, appointments are limited by the amount of vaccine we get from the state each week.
We are looking forward to increased vaccine supply from the state and federal government as well as a more steady stream of vaccines, which will allow the county to offer appointments further in advance.
It's also critical that everyone waits until they are eligible to be vaccinated.
Even if you're able to get an appointment through Othena, you will be turned away if you're not part of the eligible group or don't live or work in Orange County. You'll be asked to provide proof of both of these things once you arrive.
Here are some updates from the Anaheim Super POD and vaccines overall:
Pfizer, Moderna: The Anaheim site now offers Pfizer's two-shot dose in addition to Moderna.
On any given day, we'll divide our six shot tents between Moderna and Pfizer. They can't be mixed and matched, so it's always good to be familiar with which one you've received.
You won't be allowed to choose which vaccine you want to receive. Both have effective rates of about 95 percent after two doses.
Moderna is about 80 percent effective after the first dose, with Pfizer at 52 percent with one shot.
While that's great, getting the second shot is critical to stop spread and build immunity in our city.
Other than sore arms, those vaccinated see few issues after the first shot. The second shot can bring short-term mild fever, chills and muscle aches. That's a good thing -- it is your body building immunity to coronavirus.
Both vaccines mimic a harmless protein made by coronavirus. They do not contain any live virus.
Your body recognizes the harmless protein and then gets to work fighting what it thinks is coronavirus, even though you're not infected. So even when you feel sick after that second shot, rest assured you don't have COVID-19.
Johnson & Johnson: a third vaccine is before the Food and Drug Administration for emergency authorization. We could see movement on it in late February.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires only one shot and has different levels of effectiveness against getting severely sick, hospitalized or dying.
We are hoping to see the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as a third option in Anaheim and Orange County, particularly for those with limited mobility and in settings where giving one shot is more effective.
However, we await final word from the state on whether we'll be allocated doses of Johnson & Johnson or if the county will reserve them for specific groups.
