This is fantastic news.
This is fantastic news for the
state of California and the nation.
We have another tool in our Arsenal
against COVID-19 and I'm thrilled
that we have a one shot vaccine.
Well, I mean here in California we are,
we've been working incredibly
hard to vaccinate as many
Californians as quickly as possible.
I think that this vaccine
only adds to our supply,
which I think is critically important.
And in addition to that,
we also recognize that there
are some communities we have
such a diverse population.
There are some communities that
have a harder time coming back
in for a second shot, right so?
Some for whom doing a two dose
regimen is more difficult,
and so now we have another
option for those folks.
So we're talking about, for example,
homebound individuals, right?
We recognize that individuals who have.
Severe disabilities or preexisting
conditions that really hard for them
to leave House now they can have a
one dose vaccine instead of having
to try to do it 2 times, right?
For example, our we have a fair
number of migrants individuals in
our in our agricultural community.
So, for example of farmworkers where
folks may be here in one place for
four one vaccine but may have a very,
very difficult time, you know,
following following up they may be in a
different location for the second vaccine,
and so A1 dose vaccine might be.
Easier for folks to be fully vaccinated.
Yeah, I mean so interesting Lee.
I think I think the big thing that
distinguishes the J&J vaccine is the
is that it's just one dose, right?
But beyond that, we know it's safe.
We know that it's effective.
We see that the side effects are
generally very similar to the
Moderna and the Pfizer vaccines.
So from that standpoint there,
there are a lot of similarities in terms
of the experience of getting the vaccine.
The you know there are some
differences in the science,
how they made the vaccine,
the Moderna and Pfizer RM RNA vaccines.
And this this vaccine is actually
created from a an inactive or weakened
version of the Adno virus vaccine.
And so this is a adenoviral
E vectored vaccine,
so there's some of the fancy items
that that I get really interested in.
Behind the vaccine is.
Is different,
but really in terms of the
safety and the efficacy.
It's very similar in the fact that doesn't
need to be refrigerated is pretty remarkable,
right?
That is actually yes a big deal,
so the fact that it doesn't have
to be in the deep freeze it can.
It is stable at regular refrigeration
temperatures also just makes transporting
the vaccine story in the vaccine.
Getting the vaccine out and
distributing it a much easier process.
So what the studies show is that the
this vaccine is 85% effective against
severe covid disease, which is a
very very high rate of effectiveness.
Now we see with the Moderna and the
Pfizer that they are slightly higher
but but in terms of when we're talking
about protection from severe disease.
See, this is an excellent vaccine when
we're talking about protection from death.
We're seeing 100% protection,
and so that's really critical.
Another thing about this vaccine that
is really important is that this
vaccine was tested both in the United
States and then also in South Africa,
and as we are tracking the emergence
of different variants,
one of the things that's exciting is
the likelihood that this vaccine.
Has advocates efficacy against
some of those those variants that
we are concerned about?
So what we'll see in California and
we're still learning because the
federal government is still kind
of sharing their plans about how
they're going to roll this out.
But what we can expect is that
the J&J vaccine will be added
to our supplies of vaccine.
Now the way that it works right now is,
for example, in many of our
vaccine sites, right?
A site has one type of vaccine.
And that's because of the
storage requirements and the
you know the transportation
requirements and all those things.
So likely we'll see a similar thing
where some sites will have J&J some
fight sites will have Moderna,
some sites will have Pfizer and
because the Johnson and Johnson
vaccine is more fridge stable,
and because it's more because
it's only one dose,
will likely be able to have much more
flexibility in our use of that vaccine.
The number one takeaway on the
Johnson and Johnson Vaccine is
that it's safe. It's effective and
it's just one shot, so you know
all of these. We think that's
incredibly positive,
and it's a very important tool
in our Arsenal against Covin 19.
Oh, I wish I had the answer
to that question, so you
know you're absolutely right.
I think we've we've heard different things
about how much vaccine that we are going
together that we were promised to get,
and we're excited about the
idea of the federal government
ramping up vaccine supply.
You know, in the state of
California Department of Public
Health, we essentially don't.
Our vaccines until they arrive.
Simply because or until we know the
ownerships simply because some of
those numbers do go up and down.
But what we what we are hearing
from the federal government is
that there is a plan that we will
have increasing numbers of doses
of vaccine in the coming,
you know, weeks to months.
That's a great question.
So what we the way that our
allocation system goes right now is
that phase one be still a folks.
Remember is kind of a combination
between an age and sector based,
so we have those who are 65 and up.
Then from the age based framework
and then we also have educators,
farmworkers you know,
food and AG workers.
At emergency responders in that
as sector based strategy ANAN,
you're absolutely right.
Those with pre existing health conditions
and certain disabilities will be next.
Starting on they will have
access starting on March 15th.
I also want to for folks to
recognize that all of this is
pending vaccine availability,
so there are lots of people
who are still going to have to
wait to get access to vaccines,
But then following that was
waiting to an age based.
System and that age based system is
really going to be going down from age 65.