Orange County Lawmakers Call For FEMA Vaccine Distribution Site In Anaheim
Reps. Correa and Kim Urge FEMA Director To Help Anaheim Distribute Vaccines To Critical Workers & At-Risk Residents
Washington, DC — Today, Congressman Lou Correa (D-CA-46), joined by Congresswoman Young Kim (R-CA-39), sent a letter to the Acting FEMA Administrator, Robert J. Fenton, Jr., requesting immediate assistance in establishing a COVID-19 mass vaccination site in Anaheim. Anaheim is home to 350,000 residents and has experienced more than 40,000 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began in March of 2020.
"We urge you to establish a direct partnership with the City of Anaheim to establish a COVID-19 mass vaccination site in Anaheim," Members wrote in the letter. "Within the County of Orange, Anaheim has been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, becoming a hot spot for the virus. Those living in the city's severely affected neighborhoods have found it difficult to access vaccines due to limited supplies, mobility issues, and other chronic barriers.
Rep. Lou Correa said, "Anaheim has been hit hard by COVID-19. With more than 40,000 cases over the past year, Anaheim is one of California's hardest-hit cities. Yet, vaccine distribution has been slow to reach the people of Anaheim and central Orange County. FEMA must join with Anaheim to bring the vaccine to the countless at-risk frontline and essential workers in the city."
“More than 50,000 Californians, including many residents of Orange County, have been taken from us due to COVID-19. We must ensure that all who are eligible and want to take the vaccine are able to so we can protect the public health and safety of our communities and safely reopen,” said Kim. “As the 10th largest city in California and the home of many large-scale venues, the City of Anaheim has the unique ability to host a FEMA COVID-19 vaccination site to ensure equitable vaccine access across Orange County. I’m glad to join fellow Orange County Rep. Correa in this effort to fight for our constituents during this public health crisis.”
Read the letter:
February 26, 2021
Mr. Robert J. Fenton, Jr.
Acting Administrator
Federal Emergency Management Agency
500 C St. SW
Washington DC 20024
Dear Administrator Fenton:
Thank you for your leadership to ensure a coordinated approach to using Defense Production Act authorities and assistance with vaccine distribution efforts through reimbursements for associated costs to our state and local governments. Ensuring equitable vaccine access to the vulnerable and underserved populations is a shared goal, which is why we are requesting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) consider partnering with the City of Anaheim to establish a COVID-19 mass vaccination site in Anaheim.
Within the County of Orange, Anaheim has been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, becoming a hot spot for the virus. Those living in the city's severely affected neighborhoods have found it difficult to access vaccines due to limited supplies, mobility issues, and other chronic barriers. Anaheim, the 10th most populous city in California, serves more than 350,000 residents, which have seen extremely high numbers of COVID-19 cases, and tragically deaths. Expanding access to vaccines in Anaheim, through FEMA's mass vaccination site's fair and inclusive distribution will aid in closing the inequitable vaccination gap.
Anaheim has the significant ability to host multiple mass vaccination sites utilizing their many large-scale venues throughout the city. The City has honored their partnership with the County of Orange by hosting the County's first large COVID-19 vaccination point of distribution (POD) for all Orange County residents at the Disneyland Resort on January 13, 2021. The second POD site at the Anaheim Convention Center is opening February 23, 2021, augmenting vaccinations currently provided through the Anaheim Super Pod at Disney Resort.
We thank Mayor Sidhu and Councilmember Valencia for their leadership and bringing forward good common-sense solutions for the residents of Anaheim. The city has been working diligently with community partners to provide testing, financial support, food resources, and additional aid to struggling residents and businesses. We urge you to establish a direct partnership with the City of Anaheim to establish a COVID-19 mass vaccination site in Anaheim.
Respectfully,
J. LUIS CORREA
Member of Congress
YOUNG KIM
Member of Congress
CC Anaheim Mayor Harry S. Sidhu
Anaheim Council Member Avelino Valencia
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