The problems in more than a dozen counties revealed in the documents have not been previously reported. In written responses to questions, OptumServe and the California Department of Public Health acknowledged missteps and attributed some early miscommunication and staffing shortages to the unprecedented nature of the pandemic and the unique challenges of delivering vaccines to all corners of California. Over the past year, the state awarded OptumServe and its subsidiary, Logistics Health Inc., three no-bid contracts totaling up to $1 billion to run hundreds of California’s testing and vaccine sites. The Brown Institute for Media Innovation’s Documenting COVID-19 project in collaboration with CalMatters reviewed thousands of pages of internal emails about OptumServe and conducted interviews with county health departments. The company still has 30 sites operating in 23 counties across California. At several vaccine sites, OptumServe failed to deliver the minimum 420 doses it pledged to distribute each day.Īt least three counties - Lassen, Madera and Tulare - stopped working with OptumServe, are taking back doses and turning instead to community groups for running their vaccination sites.
It has helped administer about 370,000 doses since January - just 1.1% of California’s nearly 34 million during that span. The company has fallen far short of the up to 100,000 daily vaccine doses it told the state in its contracts that it could deliver. Officials from at least 12 counties complained to the state Department of Public Health about delays and other problems with OptumServe, saying that the problems hampered their ability to get shots into arms, according to state documents obtained through a Public Records Act request. But the health care company’s work in at least a dozen counties has been plagued by miscommunication and staffing shortages. "As we contend with harmful rhetoric and distrust around the vaccine, it is crucial that we conduct a robust education and outreach effort to ensure farm workers and other food workers feel safe and secure receiving the vaccine which will help keep them, their families, and their communities safe.California agreed to pay OptumServe up to $221 million during the pandemic to coordinate and operate dozens of vaccination sites. Throughout this pandemic, they have worked hard to provide for their families and put food on our tables, often at great personal cost and risk," said Rep. "The Central Coast knows how essential our farm workers are. We've called them essential workers for a year now, and it's time they get the protection they deserve," said Congressman Josh Harder. "Our food and farm workers in the Central Valley are on the frontlines of feeding the nation. Although farmworkers continue to do the hard work necessary for our food security, all of us must work together so that they can do it safely and our communities can get on the road to recovery. We are asking the State to work closely with us and our local communities so that there are enough vaccines and educational resources for everyone, especially our essential agricultural workers, to get vaccinated. "As many farmworkers follow the harvest and flow back into our agriculture communities, the State of California must take into account the increased numbers to ensure proper vaccine distribution.
"As we endure this pandemic, Central Coast farmworkers have continued to show up to work despite the risk, do their job, and play a vital role in putting food on our tables," said Congressman Panetta. I'm hopeful the state will adapt its allocations to quickly protect these workers." "I've been working hard to increase vaccinations in the San Joaquin Valley and this is an important part of that effort. Our essential farmworkers are no exception," said Costa. "As vaccines are distributed across our state, we must ensure everyone has access to a vaccine that needs it. The letter also acknowledges that all levels of government must work together to protect the agricultural communities that have suffered disproportionately from the virus. The letter requests a robust educational campaign, including linguistically accessible and culturally appropriate resources, to ensure these essential workers feel secure in seeking out and accepting the vaccine. (FRESNO) – Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16) along with California Representatives Jimmy Panetta (D-20), led a group of California Congressional members in a letter to Governor Newsom to ensure outreach to farmworkers as part of the State of California's Phase 1B distribution plan for the COVID-19 vaccine.
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