BEAUMONT, Calif. — Mormon Elder Mark Chase and his wife both got their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine Thursday. 

"We've been praying for this. Not just our church, but I think people world round, that there would be a vaccine," Chase said.

There was hardly any wait between the appointment and injection. In Los Angeles, it is almost impossible to get an appointment for your first dose, much less with 24-hour turnaround time. For the moment, Riverside County has a lot of vaccine availability. Mainly because the supply has increased and the initial frenzy has worn off.

County spokesman Shane Reichardt said an appointment would be harder to make once the eligibility rules widen again.

"As soon as we open it up, we're going to see that demand increase, and we're going to see more people coming in for these appointments. They're going to fill up," Reichardt said.

This will be the case very soon.

While visiting a vaccination site in Santa Ana, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that starting April 1, Californians over the age of 50 can get shots, and doses will be available to anyone 16 and older two weeks later.  

Reichardt said Riverside County's population is spread out, making it hard to reach everyone, but six mobile teams are targeting overlooked and overworked groups such as farmworkers.

Vaccine skepticism is another hurdle. . 

Sonny Swindell also got his shot Thursday, but only after his wife persuaded him.

"Initially, I said I wasn't going to get it, period. But then, now, here I am. Today I got my first dose," Swindell said.

Appointments are required to discourage vaccine chasers. However, there is so much availability that people can show up, make an appointment, and get vaccinated all in the same day. Some would call this a miracle.

"This is certainly a blessing from heaven," Chase said.

Updated state guidelines will soon change the wait to inoculate.