Residents 65 and older are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations under a major expansion of California’s guidelines announced by the Newsom administration Wednesday, but the decision to make millions more eligible raised new questions about how the state will accommodate an influx in demand given limited supplies and the slow rollout thus far.

The announcement, which was prompted by pressure from the Trump administration, was met with confusion, including from those who said they have been unable to find out how to set up an appointment to receive vaccine.

Gavin Newsom announced a new system to let people know when they are eligible to receive a vaccine, but there were no additional details other than it is expected to launch next week.

In all, the state added more than 6 million people to the list of those who qualify by extending vaccine eligibility to those 65 and older.

Orange County will give COVID-19 vaccine to people 65 and older.

Orange County will give COVID-19 vaccine to people 65 and older.

Ahead of the state announcement in Los Angeles County, pop-up messages were added to the vaccine registration site warning people not to make appointments unless they were eligible to do so.

Federal officials said the decision to open up eligibility was an attempt to get states to take swifter action.

Azar said state regulations limiting who was eligible had “obstructed speed and accessibility” of the vaccines.

To push states into making vaccines more readily available, Azar said the federal government was providing two weeks’ notice that future doses would be released to states based on how effectively each used its existing supplies.

“It gives states a strong incentive to ensure doses are going to work protecting people, rather than sitting on shelves or in freezers,” Azar said.

asks states to hasten vaccine delivery, give second dose.

asks states to hasten vaccine delivery, give second dose.

The state, however, would wait until the next tier to allow individuals 16 to 65 with medical conditions to be eligible for the vaccine.

Newsom announced last week that the state would ease restrictions to ensure that vaccine could be offered to those in other lower-tier groups, such as teachers, child-care workers and people over the age of 75, if there was a risk of the vaccine expiring.

The county asked the state for 100,000 more vaccine doses but was told this week it would receive 6,000, said Dr

County announces first expansion of COVID-19 vaccine eligibility list

County announces first expansion of COVID-19 vaccine eligibility list

Los Angeles County will officially expand the eligibility of vaccine recipients starting Monday, following guidance from the state

“When you add this big group of people, you end up with not enough vaccine,” Carol Green of the California State Parent Teachers Assn