Ethnic Media Services [EMS].
Governor Gavin Newsom:
After one of the most difficult years of our lives, there is light at the end of the tunnel - the COVID-19 vaccines are here, and my government is working to make sure that no community is left behind.
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. They are our best hope for ending the pandemic. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is free, even if you are undocumented or uninsured.
After the federal government licensed the vaccines last December, our own Western States Scientific Safety Assessment Panel confirmed that the vaccines are safe. The Panel includes nationally recognized scientists, many from California, with expertise in public health.
While vaccine stocks are low at the moment, we are working closely with the federal government to get more vaccine to the state. And we are working hard to build a system to quickly and safely vaccinate Californians with equity at the forefront.
Because vaccine supply is limited, we are prioritizing vaccines for Californians most at risk - including health care workers, people over 65, education and child care workers, and emergency services and food and agriculture workers. That means supermarket workers, farm workers, those who work in food processing facilities and many others can now be prioritized. And we're doing what we can to make sure that the communities most impacted by COVID-19 - which are often communities of color and the essential workers who have been sustaining us during this crisis - can access the vaccine.
We are investing in community-based organizations and partnering with trusted messengers who have been providing critical services and information to California's diverse communities throughout the pandemic so they can help educate, motivate and activate people to get vaccinated when it's their turn. We are also building messaging through a public education campaign, creating in-language content with cultural humility, and meeting Californians where they are - literally, through mobile vaccination sites that have been deployed across the state to community centers, places of worship, and health clinics.
Vaccination sites are being established across the state, and we are working closely with community partners to ensure that vaccines are distributed to those who have been most affected by this virus.
You may see people in uniform or police guarding vaccination sites. They are here to help Californians get vaccinated and to help them no are immigration authorities.
The federal government, under President Biden, has confirmed that no will conduct immigration enforcement operations at or near vaccination sites or clinics. You should not be asked about your immigration status when you receive a COVID-19 vaccination.
Also, your medical information is private and cannot be shared with immigration authorities. And vaccinations do not count under the public charge rules.
All Californians can register at myturn.ca.gov to be notified when they are eligible for an immunization. Eligible individuals in several counties, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, and San Francisco, can also use My Turn to schedule an appointment, and it is expected that more counties will begin using My Turn for scheduling in the coming weeks. My Turn can also be accessed through a toll-free hotline at 1-833-422-4255. Operators speak English and Spanish, and third-party interpretation is also available in more than 250 languages. You can also ask your doctor or pharmacy about scheduling a vaccination appointment.
After getting vaccinated, it will still be important to wear a mask, wash your hands frequently, and continue to maintain a six-foot distance to protect those in your community who have not yet been vaccinated.
I encourage all Californians to get vaccinated when it's their turn. Together we can end the pandemic.
