Front-line essential workers to receive Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines at Natomas...

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Karina Talamantes - Chief of Staff, Office of Mayor Pro Tem Angelique Ashby

916-808-7339, Ktalamantes@cityofsacramento.org

Deidra Powell - Director of Communications, Natomas Unified School District 916-561-5267, dpowell@natomasunified.org

MEDIA RELEASE

Front-line essential workers to receive Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines at Natomas vaccination site Thursday

Sacramento, Calif. (March 10, 2021) – Hundreds of front-line essential workers — including janitors, service workers, restaurant workers, agricultural workers and senior care residents —on March 11 are expected to receive Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccinations at a vaccination site at Natomas High School (3301 Fong Ranch Road).

The site is hosted by medical provider Urgent Care Now, Natomas Unified School District, City of Sacramento Mayor Pro Tem Ashby, City Councilmember Jeff Harris and Sacramento County Department of Public Health.

“As a school district, our goal has always been to do our part to create a healthy Natomas, and we’ve been successful at that with bringing our partners and community together to provide this vaccination clinic,” said Susan Heredia, president of Natomas Unified School District Board of Trustees.

“It’s so important to support our front-line workers who have not stopped working during the COVID-19 pandemic and will have a sense of relief coming home to their families after being vaccinated,” said Mayor Pro Tem Ashby, City council member for District 1.

“I’m grateful to have such terrific partners in Natomas and throughout Sacramento to provide access to those who need this vaccine so that we can end this pandemic once and for all,” said Dr. Rusty Oshita of Urgent Care Now.

The Natomas vaccination site since Feb. 11 has provided more than 4,000 residents with vaccinations under the medical guidance of Dr. Oshita.

“These clinics are helping eliminate barriers to transportation, healthcare, languages, and continue to address wide disparities in vaccine distribution that are leaving communities in danger,” said Ashby.

“Black and Brown immigrant workers have been carrying us through this pandemic,” said David Huerta, president of United Service Workers West. “We make up a majority of essential workers and we have been getting the virus and dying from it at a higher rate than others. Today's effort is a step in the right direction to protect immigrant communities and communities of color who have been on the frontlines of fighting this pandemic.”

ATTENDING:

Site Host: Dr. Susan Heredia, Natomas Unified School District Board of Trustees president

Event Host: Mayor Pro Tem Angelique Ashby, City of Sacramento

• State Senator Dr. Richard Pan

• Mayor Darrell Steinberg, City of Sacramento

• Councilmember Jeff Harris, City of Sacramento

• Dr. Rusty Oshita, Urgent Care Now

• Mary Kay Henry, president of SEIU (Service Employees International Union)

• Fabrizio Sasso, executive director of Sacramento Central Labor Council

• David Huerta, president of United Service Workers West

• Andrew Gross Gaitan, regional vice president of United Service Workers West

• Adam Loveall, United Food & Commercial Workers & Coalition of Organized Labor

• Dr. Olivia Kasirye, Sacramento County public health officer

• Patrick Mulvaney, owner of Mulvaneys B&L restaurant

TIME: Thursday, March 11 from 10 to 11 a.m.

WHERE: Natomas High School, front of school office (3301 Fong Ranch Road., Sacramento, CA)

Members of the media are invited to speak to leaders of about the vaccination site, the impact of COVID-19 on frontline workers of color and their families. Workers who have received the vaccination are expected to be available for interviews in English and Spanish.