What do we know about the vaccine right now and who’s behind it?
The Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are all available now in U.S. The FDA authorized the emergency use of the Pfizer vaccine for all Americans age 12 and older. Both the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines have been authorized for all Americans age 18 and older.
How many doses does California have right now?
As of July 27, California has received about 49 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccines, and more than 43 million people have taken the vaccine. According to the state, more than 60% of California's population is now fully vaccinated. Another 9% of people are at least partially vaccinated. Any Californian 12 and up can now get vaccinated, for free.
Who will get the vaccine once it’s available at the countywide level?
This is likely going to be rolled out in many different ways, depending on how your county is handling the situation. But what we do know is those considered high-risk healthcare workers and first responders as well as residents of congregant care facilities like nursing homes will get the vaccine first. K-12 teachers, school staff and childcare workers will be next. And then employees who work in prisons, jails, detention centers and similar facilities will be next in line.
How could a safe vaccine be produced so quickly?
According to Dr. Peter Marks of the Food and Drug Administration, which evaluates the safety and efficacy of vaccine candidates, the FDA was able to eliminate the “dead space,” the months and even years that can typically occur between phases of trials. Also, an established vaccine development process was already in place prior to the COVID-19 epidemic, giving researchers a running start on developing vaccines to fight the coronavirus. “There were no corners cut here,” Marks said during a union-sponsored town hall about the vaccine. “We can feel very comfortable that the things that needed to be checked were checked.”
What has worked so far to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus?
Wearing a mask, staying 6 feet apart and staying home are still the best ways to stop the spread of the virus, according to medical experts. Once the vaccine is available to everyone in 2021, getting vaccinated will be the best way to help us reopen the economy and relieve our hospitals and communities that have been impacted the most.
