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On Oct. 19, the state of California publicly released its plan for administering COVID-19 vaccinations. The plan responds to questions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for every state, describing how the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) will work within state government and with local health departments and health care providers to distribute and administer the vaccine.
California has received $28 million from the CDC to administer this program.
The plan describes the state’s internal governance structure — the California Governor’s COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force — that has representation from multiple state departments and is co-led by CDPH and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES). Three external groups will be convened:
- Drafting Guidelines Workgroup
- Scientific Safety Review Workgroup (membership was announced on Oct. 19)
- Community Vaccine Advisory Committee
Many hospital and health system health care personnel are anticipated to be in the first phase, 1-A, of those offered the vaccine when doses are initially limited. The document describes this first phase as including health care personnel likely treating patients with COVID-19 as well as those likely to be exposed to COVID-19.
Allocation is described in the plan as flowing first from the federal government to the state; then from the state to large multi-jurisdictional entities such as health providers and systems with locations in multiple counties; and finally to local health departments, which will allocate to health care providers and other entities within their counties.
The plan also discusses cold chain storage capacity, how providers will be enrolled to serve as vaccination sites, and data reporting requirements for vaccinators, among other issues. CHA has convened a COVID-19 Vaccine Workgroup to inform its policy advocacy in this area and participates in weekly meetings with state leadership on its COVID-19 planning, along with other statewide associations.
