California Gov. Gavin Newsom launched “Vaccinate All 58” on Monday, a campaign to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to California’s 58 counties.
The “Vaccinate All 58” campaign is based on safety and equity and is a partnership with the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, where some of the first Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines were administered. Front-line health care workers and senior center residents will be prioritized due to their risk and level of exposure as the vaccine shipments arrive. According to a press release, broad distribution will happen in later months.
“By taking collective, inclusive action across all 58 counties to get people vaccinated, we can get through to a healthier future for all,” Newsom said in the press release. “This is a moment for hope, and it is also a time to remain vigilant as we face the most intense surge yet.”
Due to limited initial vaccine supplies, distribution guidelines will be determined in an “open and equitable” way. After health care workers and senior center residents, it is expected that essential workers and other high-risk individuals will be vaccinated.
Newsom also issued an executive order Monday that provides a 90-day extension on taxes for small businesses filing less than $1 million in taxes and updates quarantine-related California Division of Occupational Safety and Health requirements in accordance with California Department of Public Health guidelines. The order also extends available housing for migrant agricultural workers and their families beyond the statutory occupancy period.
“Hope is here. As our first doses of vaccine arrive, the promise of ending the pandemic is on the horizon,” Newsom said in the press release. “There’s light at the end of the tunnel and I am calling on all Californians to do our part to get us through this – wear a mask, reduce mixing, stay home, stop the spread and save lives. Together we will get through this.”