California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Nov. 3 a new vaccination program for children ages 5 to 11 that will allocate 1.2 million vaccines for the age group and set up 4,000 vaccine sites throughout the state.
The program was announced one day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11.
“Vaccines are how we end this pandemic, and they’re how we keep our kids safe—it’s time to get our children the protection they need from this deadly virus, especially as we head into the winter season,” Newsom said in a statement.
“California is leading the nation in vaccinations, with 54 million administered and 87 percent of the eligible population with at least one dose, and we’re moving swiftly to implement a robust and equitable vaccination program that will cover this newly eligible age group.”
The state expects to begin the vaccine process for the approved age group immediately. A shipment of 1.2 million vaccine doses will arrive in the coming weeks, with 500 organizations throughout the state receiving the doses, according to the governor’s office.
Over 4,000 locations statewide are ready to give the shot to eligible age groups.
The state intends to work alongside schools, local health departments, and medical providers to assist vaccine distribution. Further efforts include pop-up and mobile clinics.
Partnerships with programs such as the Alliance for Boys & Girls and Sierra Health Foundation have been fostered by the state to set up 84 pop-up clinics, according to the governor’s office.
As of Nov. 3, over 3,000 clinics have been established at schools, with more coming in November and December.
