LOS ANGELES—Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Biden administration announced a pilot project Feb. 3 that will establish a community COVID-19 vaccination site at Cal State Los Angeles.
The pilot site is part of the wider effort to establish 100 vaccination sites nationwide in the Biden administration’s first 100 days. The Cal State Los Angeles site—along with a similar site at the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum—will be co-run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the state of California through the governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
“In the fight against COVID-19, partnership is key, especially when it comes to reaching Californians in underserved areas,” Newsom said. “These new sites will help us get available supply to some of the California communities most in need. I thank the Biden administration for standing with us as we continue our efforts to safely, swiftly and equitably vaccinate all Californians.”
Acting FEMA Administrator Bob Fenton said Feb. 3 the two California sites are “perfect examples of how FEMA is working around the clock to support state led, federally supported vaccine delivery. Today’s announcement is a significant step forward in the ongoing effort to ensure every American who wants a vaccine will receive a vaccine.”
FEMA will provide resources and federal staffing support, as well as operational support.
“Cal State L.A. is ready to work with President Joe Biden, Governor Gavin Newsom and their administrations to provide badly needed vaccinations,” said Jose Gomez, the university’s executive vice president and provost. “Our students and alumni live in communities with some of the highest COVID-19 infection rates per capita in Los Angeles County.”
Officials said the two California locations were chosen because they’re in 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.
“We are grateful to President Biden and Governor Newsom for marshaling federal and state resources to significantly increase our ability to vaccinate our residents in Los Angeles County,'' said Hilda Solis, chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
“Our county and in particular our Latinx residents have been absolutely devastated by COVID-19. Establishing this large scale federal-state community vaccination center on the Cal State L.A. campus, in the heart of Los Angeles County and in a hard-hit community, is a welcome signal that we are ramping up at the federal, state, and local level with the practical, boots-on-the-ground solutions we need to put an end to this deadly pandemic.”
Preparations for both locations is underway, and the sites are expected to be open to eligible members of the public beginning Feb. 16.
