(Jae C. Hong-Pool/Getty Images)
By Hanna Park
(WASHINGTON) All California residents age 16 and older are eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday.
“Today’s vaccine eligibility expansion is a major milestone in our state’s fight against the pandemic and another step on the path to reopening fully in the coming months,” Newsom said in a statement. “Thanks to the hard work of Californians who followed public health guidelines, our case rates and hospitalizations are among the lowest they’ve been since the start of the pandemic.
Earlier in March, the governor said that California was anticipating "an abundance" of vaccines from the federal government in April through May.
"California will need all hands on deck to keep up this progress, and I encourage everyone to get vaccinated as soon as possible," Newsom added. "Vaccinating all of those who are eligible will take time, but our statewide providers are ready to meet the increased demand and we are excited to get this vaccine into the arms of all Californians who want them, especially those in the hardest-hit communities.”
This vaccine expansion comes exactly two months before the state aims to fully reopen its economy on July 15.
In March, Newsom said "all sectors" may return to normal operations "in compliance with Cal/OSHA requirements and with common-sense public health policies in place, such as required masking, testing and with vaccinations encouraged."
President Joe Biden announced last week that he was moving up his target of expanding vaccine eligibility for all American adults by two weeks to April 19.