Earlier this month, California Governor Gavin Newsom and the Biden-Harris Administration announced a pilot project to establish two large-scale community-focused vaccine centers in Oakland and Los Angeles. Since then, coordinating federal, state, and local agencies have been working round-the-clock to construct the sites at the Oakland Arena/RingCentral Coliseum and Cal State Los Angeles. The sites are expected to be open to eligible members of the public beginning February 16. Registration for vaccine appointments at these two sites will be available through the state’s MyTurn scheduling system in the coming days.
With a focus on responding to the vaccination needs of our vulnerable and diverse communities, these pilot sites are part of the wider effort to establish 100 vaccination sites nationwide in the federal administration’s first 100 days. 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).
The two locations chosen for these efforts are in some of the most diverse and socioeconomically challenged communities in the country. They are also communities that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and are home to essential workers who have borne the brunt of keeping the economy open over the past year.
The goal of establishing these joint federal pilot sites is to continue to expand the rate of vaccinations in California in an efficient, effective, and equitable manner, with an explicit focus on making sure that communities with a high risk of COVID-19 exposure and infection are not left behind.
*****INTERVIEWS FOR MEDIA USE***
Cal OES Assistant Director of Recovery Operations Grady Joseph describes the two large-scale community-focused vaccine centers in Oakland and Los Angeles:
Cal OES Assistant Director of Recovery Operations Grady Joseph on the logistical challenges being mitigated at both vaccination sites:
Cal OES Assistant Director of Recovery Operations Grady Joseph on vaccination site access and experience:
Cal OES Assistant Director of Recovery Operations Grady Joseph on vaccine eligibility for Oakland and Los Angeles sites:
Cal OES Assistant Director of Recovery Operations Grady Joseph on the benefits of the Los Angeles vaccination site location:
Cal OES Assistant Director of Recovery Operations Grady Joseph on the benefits of the Oakland vaccination site location:
*****VIDEO FOR MEDIA USE (SOURCE: CAL OES)***
B-Roll: Oakland Arena/RingCentral Coliseum vaccination site setup day one:
B-Roll: Cal State Los Angeles vaccination site setup day one: