California's governor Monday announced any Food and Drug Administration cleared COVID-19 vaccine will not automatically be allowed in the state.
Bringing together doctors from Stanford, UC Berkeley, and hospitals, Governor Gavin Newsom is launching what he calls the California COVID-19 Scientific Safety Review Workgroup. The team will have to put their stamp of approval on any coronavirus vaccine before it is cleared for use in California. Once the FDA eventually gives approval for a vaccine, the SCRW will convene and study the science behind the vaccine before authorization is given in California.
Newsom also said that front line workers in the fight against the virus will be among those who will get the state-approved vaccine. Others to be first in line for what the Governor believes will be a limited supply of vaccine doses will include prisoners and people living in minority communities.
The Governor also strongly suggested that the general population in California won't have access to a vaccine until between spring and fall of 2021. He also said it is likely that you'll need to take two doses of the vaccine over a period of time.
"This vaccine plan will move at the speed of trust," Newsom cautioned.
Because of restrictions placed on distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine in California and a slowing of decreases in the number of new cases of the virus and resulting hospitalizations, Governor Newsom says he his stubbornly sticking with his slow and steady approach to safely reopening the state's economy and schools.
"It's not going end this pandemic overnight," said Newsom about any vaccine. "That's why it's absolutely essential that we maintain our vigilance."