New project brings focus on equity + community:
Today President Joseph R. Biden and Governor Gavin Newsom announced that two large-scale community-focused vaccine centers will be piloted in Oakland and East Los Angeles. With an eye toward responding to the vaccination needs of our vulnerable and diverse communities, these two sites are the first of 100 planned nationwide.
The State is opening these sites with a mission to address community needs and ensure an effective process that can vaccinate as many Californians as possible.
Help us spread the word!
We are asking for your help to let Californians know about this pilot project. We are hoping to increase the pace at which Californians receive vaccines, while also having an explicit emphasis on reaching and serving vulnerable and diverse communities.
We know many of you have been actively pushing Californians to follow social distancing guidelines and encourage vaccine sign ups. As trusted messengers who provide the frontline support to the communities you serve, we hope you are able to use the information and graphics from this e-blast to share this update as well as share forthcoming details.
Social media post messaging
Suggested messaging (English): California and the federal government are launching a pilot project to open large-scale community vaccine sites in Oakland and Los Angeles. Go to myturn.ca.gov for vaccine eligibility. Together, we can #EndthePandemic
Suggested messaging (Español): California se junta con el gobierno federal para abrir sitios comunitarios de vacunas en Oakland y Los Ángeles. Visite myturn.ca.gov para conocer su elegibilidad para la vacuna. Juntos podemos #acabarconlapandemia
Where are the pilot locations?
The large-scale community vaccination sites will be in Oakland and East Los Angeles. To further accessibility, these physical locations will each include mobile assets to provide additional services to the surrounding community.
When will the sites be open to the public?
The State is working rapidly to open these two centers by mid-February. We will provide you an update as more details and logistics become available.
How does the public access these sites?
The Oakland and East Los Angeles sites are designed as regional locations for those within the county and beyond. The public can access these large-scale vaccine sites by signing up for My Turn.
This newly launched platform is how Californians will be notified when it is their turn to 1) receive a vaccine and 2) where to be vaccinated. Notifications from My Turn will let users know when they will be eligible to make an appointment. My Turn will also help track those who have yet to receive a second vaccine dose and need additional outreach.
Eligible Californians will be able to access appointments at these sites by visiting My Turn in the coming days. Having been piloted in Los Angeles and San Diego counties, individuals in those counties can visit myturn.ca.gov to register for a notification immediately.
Confirm your eligibility by visiting VaccinateALL58.com.
What is the purpose of this pilot project?
In response to the needs of community, these pilot sites offer an additional community resource to make the process of vaccination more accessible to our diverse and vulnerable populations. While urgent details still need to be worked out, these sites offer a critical step forward to tackle the major inequities of communities disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as accelerate efforts to end this pandemic.
Who is managing these locations?
The sites will be co-run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the State of California through the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).
