California will not allow the distribution of any coronavirus vaccine in the state without prior review from the state’s panel of experts, regardless of federal approval, the Associated Press reports.
Following a similar declaration by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom said that the move will be done no matter who wins the presidential election next month.
Newsom named a panel of 11 experts in medicine and the sciences to evaluate the medications. The panel will also oversee the preparation for distribution of the vaccines, many of which have strict refrigeration requirements to maintain viability.
According to Newsom, 45 million doses might be available by the end of the year, at most, according to pharmaceutical companies working on them. Most formulations require two doses given weeks apart.
If distributed proportionally, California would receive approximately 5.4 million doses because the state is residence to 12% of the US population. That’s enough for 2.7 million people in the state of 40 million people. Those doses would be prioritized to medical workers, First responders and front-line workers.