Even if vaccines are approved by the federal government or pharmaceutical companies, Governor Newsom will not allow them to be administered to Californians until they are reviewed by the state's panel of experts. During a briefing on Monday, the governor said that the state “will move at the speed of trust,” where vaccines are concerned.
A group of 11 doctors and scientists from top medical universities/institutions as well as public health officials were appointed by Governor Newsom to review any vaccine that makes it to the public distribution phase, because he said "Of course we won't take anyone's word for it."
As the governor's policy raises concerns over a delay in virus inoculation for the most densely populated state in the U.S., Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, a professor of epidemiology at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health says, “I wouldn’t interpret this as a delay in distribution. I would interpret this as an effort to make sure that distribution is equitable and timely,” he said. “The people in this group are among the most reputable public health advocates in the state.”
Newsom also shared that of the two most advanced vaccines in final testing phase right now, up to 45 million doses could be available nationwide before year's end. If the state were to receive a portion of those doses that is commensurate with California's population, it would equate to 5.4 million doses. Since the vaccine requires two doses, three weeks apart, so 2.7 million people could be inoculated. Most of these initial doses are earmarked for front-line medical workers, first responders, and those with the most vulnerable health conditions.
Photo: Getty Images