(CN) — Governor Gavin Newsom pushed vaccines during his first press conference in weeks on Wednesday at a Covid-19 vaccine and flu shot clinic.
Newsom addressed issues related to veterans and answered multiple questions probing his abrupt decision not to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland after initially planning to lead a delegation. However, the primary focus of his remarks was on Covid-19 vaccinations.
“These vaccines are life-saving. These vaccines helped us put a lid on Covid this summer,” Newsom said. “We’re encouraging people to get their booster shots, and those that have not gotten immunity through a vaccine, we encourage you to consider that as we move into the winter.”
While touting California’s comparatively high vaccination rates and reduced community spread of the virus throughout the summer, Newsom said the Golden State’s hospitalizations and case rates are on an uptick.
“We had the lowest case rates in America for a large portion of the summer. Just yesterday, we went up to about the 16th lowest. That moved rather quickly. I say that not to alarm people, but to caution folks,” Newsom said, pointing to the state’s case surge during the holiday season of 2020.
Mark Ghaly, the California secretary of health and human services, said the administration encouraged everyone to get a booster shot and noted that more than 100,000 children ages 5 to 11 across the state have received a dose of the vaccine since it was approved for the age group last week.
Last month, Newsom added the Covid-19 vaccine to the list of required vaccinations for students.
In the weeks since Newsom unexpectedly cancelled plans to travel to the Glasgow climate summit, rumors have swirled about the California governor’s whereabouts. Newsom dismissed claims reported in the Daily Mail that he did not attend because of an adverse reaction to the Covid-19 vaccine booster shot and the flu shot.
“That’s made up, I had absolutely no impact whatsoever from the Covid shot—the original or the booster,” Newsom said. He added that after a “challenging and grueling few years on the campaign trail, feeling like I’m on the treadmill,” he felt it necessary to spend time with his four children over Halloween weekend.
Questioned about his “disappearance” the following week, Newsom said spent the week with his team in his office in the state capital.
“No state’s done more on the issue of low-carbon, green-growth to decarbonize and change the way we produce and consume energy,” Newsom said, commending the group led by Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis representing the state at the summit. “We will continue on that pace, regardless of this conference.”
Newsom did not commit to or rule out participating virtually in other summit events before the conference ends on Friday.
On the even of Veteran’s Day, Newsom and the other officials at the press conference highlighted efforts to vaccinate veterans.
Steven Braverman, the director of the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, said 75% of the system’s 90,000 enrolled veterans had received a Covid-19 vaccination shot. He said “almost the entire 5,500 employees” of the system were vaccinated as well.
Newsom spoke about his grandfather, a World War II veteran and prisoner-of-war who died by suicide. He announced that home construction company Lennar would be building 86 tiny homes at the Los Angeles facility to provide housing support to veterans.
Newsom said that helping provide housing and address the mental and behavioral health concerns of veterans should take as much priority as veterans’ physical health needs, stressing the impact of a slate of legislation he signed in September aimed at the crisis.
Subscribe to Closing Arguments
Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.
Additional Reads
-
Forever-chemical butter April 25, 2024 -
Surgery retaliation April 25, 2024
