COVID-19 Vaccination Planning
From the start of the pandemic, data and science have guided California's response to COVID-19. That will continue to be true when it comes to a possible vaccine. While there is no proven vaccine yet, California is putting everything in place to distribute and administer vaccine doses as quickly as possible, but only after vaccine safety has been reviewed and approved by a panel of top health experts.
California's planning process for the eventual distribution and administration of a COVID-19 vaccine is guided by the following overarching principles:
Ensuring the COVID-19 vaccine meets safety requirements
Ensuring the vaccine is distributed and administered equitably, at first to those with the highest risk of becoming infected and spreading COVID-19
Ensuring transparency by bringing in community stakeholders from the outset
Summary
California
is leveraging its well-established existing immunization framework and
emergency response infrastructure to coordinate efforts between state,
local, and territorial authorities and administer the vaccine. The state
is building on lessons learned from previous vaccination campaigns and
seasonal influenza efforts to prepare and plan for the receipt and
distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine and its implementation across the
state.
The recruitment and enrollment of COVID-19 vaccine
providers is a critical process and relies on extensive collaboration
between the state, local health departments, immunization coalitions and
statewide organizations and associations. Allocation decisions will be
data driven with an emphasis on equity and on protecting vulnerable
populations.
California's COVID-19 vaccination plan is being
implemented in several phases: Pre-vaccine; limited doses available;
larger number of doses available; and sufficient supply of doses for
entire population.
To accomplish the twin principles of safety and
equity, California established the COVID-19 California Governor's
Vaccine Task Force and a COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force Working Group with
leadership and subject matter expertise. Additionally, California is
drawing upon the knowledge of many to ensure the following:
To ensure the COVID-19 vaccine meets safety requirements, California formed a Scientific Safety Review Work Group
comprised of nationally recognized immunization, public health,
academic and other subject matter experts. The work group is staying
abreast of vaccine candidate(s) trials, evidence of safety and efficacy,
and other information to independently provide recommendations to
California leadership and vaccine planning efforts as well as ensure
public confidence in vaccine safety, efficacy, and implementation
efforts. In October, 2020, this Work Group expanded to include western state partners.
Two work groups are working to ensure the vaccine is distributed and administered equitably: a Drafting Guidelines Workgroup
is developing California-specific guidance for the prioritization and
allocation of vaccine when supplies are limited, and the Community
Advisory Vaccine Committee is providing input and feedback to the
planning efforts and resolving barriers to equitable vaccine
implementation and decision-making.
A safe and effective
COVID-19 vaccine is one of the most important interventions to end the
COVID-19 pandemic. California is working hard to be transparent,
careful, and above all, equitable in efforts to provide a COVID-19
vaccine to everyone in California who needs and requests vaccination.
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