LOS ANGELES, Calif. (KRON) – “Hope is here, relief is here and the vaccine is here.”
Those were the words of a Southern California supervisor after intensive care unit nurses received the first doses of the coronavirus vaccine Monday.
Those first shots were given at Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles County this afternoon.
A momentous occasion in the fight against COVID-19.
More than 30,000 doses of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine arrived in California Monday.
Frontline healthcare workers like Kaiser Permanente emergency room nurse Kim Taylor, were among the first to receive the shot.
“What I want you guys to know today is that help is on the way, today is just the first step,” said Kim Taylor, emergency room nurse.
Governor Gavin Newsom was there to witness the historic moment.
“Today equitable & safe administration of vaccines begins with health care workers and Californians in long-term care settings,” according to Newsom’s office on Twitter.
Newsom released a statement on Twitter that CA is now expecting more than 393,000 more doses early next. “We just got word from Pfizer, we’re week, “So first vaccines went out today at 4 locations in the state. San Diego, Los Angeles, Eureka, and San Francisco. 24 additional locations will have distribution of vaccines tomorrow.”
Four different health centers across California received the first doses of the vaccine Monday.
17,000 viles went to Kaiser Permanente Sunset in LA County.
In the Bay Area, 2,000 doses arrived at Zuckerburg San Francisco General.
Come Tuesday, 24 additional sites across the state will receive their viles.
By week’s end, more than 327,000 doses will be available across the state.
“We at Kaiser were proud to be a part of the vaccine studies and are proud of being at the forefront now of the vaccine distribution effort,” said Greg Adams, CEO of Kaiser
Frontline healthcare workers and first responders will continue to be the first to receive the vaccine and 21 days from now they will receive their second doses.
“We have to be sober and mindful of the moment we are in, which is challenging and trying,” Newsom said.
Though this is a light at the end of a very long tunnel, officials say we can’t stop social distancing or wearing our masks because the situation remains dire across the state.
“Today we received as many doses in the state of California, as there were new cases in the state of ca. Over 33k new cases recorded today, and we’re averaging 31 thousand new cases,” Newsom said.
More help is on the way, as officials expect the Moderna vaccine to be approved sometime this week.
By the end of the month, Governor Newsom expects the state to receive more than two million doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
