Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled on Monday a board of 11 California-based health experts who will independently evaluate any COVID-19 vaccine the FDA approves.
The panel of health experts, dubbed the Scientific Safety Review Workgroup, is part of the state’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan, which has been shared with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and qualifies California for an additional $28.9 million dollars in federal money for vaccine planning.
Newsom said at a news conference Monday that the panel is about not taking news of the vaccine at face value.
"A question I often get is ‘are you going to take someone's word for it?’ as it relates to vaccines,” Newsom said. “Of course we don't take anyone's word for it. We will do our own independently reviewed process."
The governor says the additional level of review would occur no matter who wins the presidential election next month, because “40 million Americans that happen to live in California deserve” verified, independent analysis.
Newsom says he doesn’t expect to see widespread distribution of a Coronavirus vaccine until well into next year.
“Recognizing that supplies will be limited initially, and the first doses of vaccines must go to health care workers, first responders and others who are especially vulnerable to this disease, we are working to ensure that administration and distribution of an approved vaccine is equitable,” Newsom said.
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