STORY BY TOMOKI CHIEN

California COVID-19 vaccine eligibility will expand to residents ages 50 and up on April 1, with further expansion to the 16 and up age bracket on April 15.

At the moment, high-risk individuals ages 16 and up are eligible for vaccinations as well as healthcare workers, agricultural workers, educators, emergency service workers and residents 65 and up.

“The light at the end of the tunnel continues to get brighter,” Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement.

It is currently unclear if Santa Clara County will choose to impose more strict eligibility guidelines, given the county’s historically fractured supply and distribution process.

The county health department will hold a press conference at 2 p.m. today to provide an update on vaccine efforts and availability.