Oakland Coliseum to serve as COVID-19 mass vaccination site

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The A’s and the Oakland Coliseum will partner with California Governor Gavin Newsom and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to be the first federally operated coronavirus vaccination supersite in the country, the A’s announced on Wednesday.

“We are proud to partner with local and national officials to do our part, and we are grateful to the individuals whose efforts at this vaccination center will help our community move forward,” the A’s said in a statement on Twitter

Newsom will team up with the Biden administration to create sites for both Oakland and Los Angeles. The LA site plans to take place at California State University, Los Angeles in an effort to create 100 vaccination sites nationwide in the administration’s first 100 days in office.

A’s president Dave Kaval and Governor Newsom say the Oakland site plans to open on Feb. 16 for those eligible for the vaccine.

"In the fight against COVID-19, partnership is key, especially when it comes to reaching Californians in underserved areas," Newsom said in a statement (h/t NBC Bay Area). "These new sites will help us get available supply to some of the California communities most in need. I thank the Biden Administration for standing with us as we continue our efforts to safely, swiftly and equitably vaccinate all Californians."

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Newsom also said this is a partnership with FEMA and the Office of Emergency Services, who will be working with county officials and plan on hiring local individuals from the community to create jobs as well. The goal is to distribute a minimum of 6,000 vaccines per day, and build from that.

MLB spring training is scheduled to begin Feb. 17 with Opening Day scheduled for April 1. 

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