Appointments pushed back, confusion reigns over 2nd COVID-19 vaccine dose

The instructions upon getting a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine are clear: People should get the second shot three or four weeks later. But things get a lot murkier when it comes to actually getting an appointment to meet that deadline. As more Los Angeles County residents than ever receive their first doses, tightening vaccine supplies and online scheduling problems are hampering their ability to finish the two-dose vaccination process. On Thursday, potentially thousands of people had their vaccine appointments postponed after the Ralphs supermarket chain -- a large vaccine distributor -- said the county's Department of Public Health, at the request of state officials, had "recovered" 10,000 doses previously intended for scheduled appointments, according to emails obtained by The Times. A Ralphs spokesperson said only first-dose customers were affected, but it only added to the confusion.