The Los Angeles LGBT Center expects to receive more vaccine doses from the federal government, but supply is currently lacking, Dr. Robert Bolan said. (photo courtesy of the L.A. LGBT Center)

Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert Bolan wants the Los Angeles LGBT Center to play a bigger role in distributing COVID-19 vaccines to its clients.

“We find ourselves begging to be let into the distribution,” Bolan said. “Right now, we are receiving dribs and drabs of vaccine supplies – 100 doses a week at a time. We don’t know when the next supply is going to come.”

Because of this, Bolan said it is impossible for the center to make plans to extend its vaccination reach beyond the 65 years and older population now receiving shots statewide.

“We’re just concerned that the unique position we have in being able to get vaccines out efficiently is not being adequately recognized,” Bolan said. “We’re the best poised to reach into communities that have been disadvantaged, are suspicious about the vaccine’s efficacy, are worried about discrimination, that don’t want to show up at a vaccine place where nobody looks like them.”

The Biden administration announced earlier this month that the government will soon begin shipping vaccines directly to Federally Qualified Health Centers, a designation given to the center. As an FQHC, the center receives funds to provide primary care services in underserved communities.

The Biden administration stated its priority to distribute vaccines equitably with respect to race, ethnicity and economic status. One million doses initially will be sent to 250 of the 1,300 community health centers nationwide.

The center received 400 doses of the Moderna vaccine and began administering them to its frontline workers, including health services, security and facilities staff who support the center’s various health care sites, on Dec. 29. The second dose required for the vaccine to be fully effective was administered 28 days later.

For information, visit lalgbtcenter.org.