California is attempting to streamline how people receive coronavirus vaccines by transitioning the state to a single network managed by the Oakland-based health insurance company Blue Shield.
The move begins on March 1, when California will begin the process, which will unfold in several phases. By the end of March, the company will fully manage the state’s vaccine network.
Counties have expressed concerns that the transition will disrupt their current operations just as they are getting online. And they worry Blue Shield doesn’t have existing community relationships.
In a call with reporters, Paul Markovich, the company's CEO, asked Californians to “give us a chance to make this work.”
“I think there's been a lot of speculation of all the things that could potentially go wrong,” he said. “It's our job to get this to work, and work for everybody.”