Yolo County launches website on coronavirus vaccine

Yolo County has launched a coronavirus vaccine webpage to keep residents updated on vaccine production and distribution.

The webpage, which launched Wednesday evening, hosts information about vaccine planning, the FDA approval process, the estimated cost and the federal government’s Operation Warped Speed — a federal program that aims to produce and distribute 300 million vaccines to the American public beginning in January.

The county does not yet know the exact cost of the vaccine, but the webpage notes that “people are expected to pay very little outofpocket cost — if anything at all.”

There are currently five vaccines for COVID- 19 that are nearly approved. California is expecting to get 327,000 vaccines in the coming weeks, much less than what is needed for the nearly 40 million residents of the state.

Yolo County’s webpage notes that, although supply will be scarce at first, it is expected to increase exponentially in the coming months.

“Experts are working on how to distribute these limited vaccines in a fair, ethical and transparent way. Some populations may get the vaccine first, such as health care workers, the elderly, those that are immunocompromised or essential workers,” the website states.

According to Yolo County Public Information Officer Jenny Tan, the county does not know how many doses the county will get, due to the small amount being distributed in the first round.

The county’s new webpage stresses the importance of safety in the development of vaccines, and the rigorous testing procedures that have been taking place, including a number of workgroup’s in California that are overseeing vaccine production and distribution.

The vaccine will most likely be under an Emergency

Use Authorization. An emergency use plan will allow vaccine use to the general public before FDA approval. The FDA will still take into consideration vaccine trials, safety and efficiency before authorization.

Children and pregnant adults may not be able to be vaccinated at first, due to the fact that only non- pregnant adults participated in the study.

The county plans to continue updating the site. To stay up to date on the latest vaccine information, go to: https:// www. yolocounty. org/ health- human- services/ adults/ communicable- diseaseinvestigation- and control/ novel-corona virus -2019/ corona virus- vaccine.