On Tuesday, February 16, 2021, at approximately 11:00 a.m. PDT, Governor Gavin Newsom joined federal, state and local leaders at the opening of a new community vaccination site at the California State University, Los Angeles.  The site is a partnership between the state and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 

Today is a continuation of Newsom’s vaccine site visits across the state.  Last week, the Governor visited vaccination sites in Fresno, San Diego, San Francisco and Santa Clara to highlight the state’s efforts to ramp up vaccinations.

To kick off the press conference, William A. Covino, president of California State University, Los Angeles, offered introductory remarks.  Following his comments, Bob Fenton, a regional FEMA official as well as General Glen D. VanHerck, Commander, United States Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, made statements.   It was noted that FEMA selects mass vaccination sites based on a combination of factors including population, poverty rate, vehicle access of communities, etc.

Governor Gavin Newsom then spoke and thanked the Biden Administration for their leadership.  “The Biden administration gets it, and they're getting it done,” he said. 

The Governor did acknowledge vaccine supply remains a challenge.  However, he also highlighted the state’s progress.  Thus far, he reported, California has administered 6.3 million vaccinations.  Also, Newsom noted that the positivity rate has plummeted to 3.5 percent.

U.S. Representative Jimmy Gomez, Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo, Los Angles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Supervisor Hilda Solis,  Councilmember Kevin de León, were attendance at the event, among others.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has announced the most recent statistics on COVID-19.  There is now a total of 3,406,365 (+0.2 percent increase) confirmed positive cases and 47,043 (+0.4 percent) deaths in California.  As of February 7^th, there have been 45,964,127 tests conducted in California and reported to the California Department of Public Health. A total of 6,153,109 vaccines have been administered. More information regarding the most recent COVID-19 statistics can be found here.  

Naomi Padron

Legislative Advocate

McHugh Koepke & Associates

1121 L Street, Suite 103

Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 930-1993

www.mchughgr.com