INLAND EMPIRE – (INT) – Barriers to getting a vaccine against the coronavirus virus pandemic are quickly coming down.

While vaccine eligibility is based on the state’s rollout tiers, anyone in the Inland Empire age 50 or older can roll up their sleeve and get protected.

Those under 50 are eligible to be vaccinated if they are employed in the following job categories: healthcare workers; long-term care residents; agriculture and food workers; educators and childcare workers; emergency services workers, transportation workers, utility workers and janitors.

Beginning April 15th, all residents ages 16 and up qualify. Anyone who accompanies an eligible family member can also get vaccinated, provided they make an appointment at the same time & place.

More than 1 million doses – both first and second doses -- have been administered to Riverside County residents through the county-run clinics and those operated by more than 200 community providers.

In San Bernardino County, 27.8% of the population has been vaccinated to date.

California has administered more than 18 million vaccine doses to date. Governor Newsom received the Johnson & Johnson 1-shot vaccine Thursday at a South Los Angeles vaccination site.

Story Date: April 6, 2021