Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].
Tech giant Google is determined to get involved in the fight against COVID-19, investing $150 million for vaccine education and equitable access, and partnering with One Medical to open vaccination clinics.
"We've seen a five-fold increase in people searching for information about COVID vaccines, which is a sign to us that people are ready for more information," Dr. Karen DeSalvo, Google's chief health officer, told ABC7 Bay Area.
According to an interview by the media outlet, Dr. DeSalvo says Google Maps will soon provide access for people to find a vaccination site near them.
"We will support the World Health Organization (WHO). In the U.S., the CDC Foundation and local community organizations, because that's where trust is built on the front lines of the neighborhood," she added.
Dr. Karen DeSalvo, Google's Chief Health Officer to ABC7 Bay Area
He also noted that Google will provide the facilities, while One Medica will provide the vaccines in partnership with the Department of Public Health.
For the time being, however, Google will begin with vaccination clinics in the Bay Area, which are expected to be ready in the next few weeks.
For his part, Dr. Andrew Diamond, medical director of One Medical, noted that they have been in talks with the Mountain View tech giant since October 2020 so that vaccination sites could become a reality.
According to Diamond, vaccines are being received from the counties, and he said the goal is to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible.
He said the reason for the $199 One Medical membership is to remind people of their second dose and to give them access to their virtual care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
However, under the partnership with Google, One Medical will offer free trial memberships.
"If you are not already a member of a single doctor, you can get a free membership that lasts 60 days. That's enough time to get your vaccine. The idea is that you can get an appointment, depending on the availability of our schedule, which is based on the amount of vaccine we have.
Dr. Andrew Diamond, Medical Director, One Medical
Google's chief health officer, Karen DeSalvo, said the company is open and willing to work with other medical providers in the future.
"We have facilities in more than 30 states in the U.S., and we can make them available once local public health authorities think they can be useful," he said.
