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Wednesday, January 27, 2021 | View as Webpage
VACCINE DISTRIBUTION CHANGES, BIDEN ORDERS MORE VACCINES, STATE VACCINE APP, EDD FRAUD CONTINUES, OC TOGETHER LAUNCH & MORE!
HOT OFF THE PRESS:
Today the Newsom Administration announced major changes to the vaccine delivery system that will affect the vaccine rollout in the state.

Beginning in mid-February, the state will implement a statewide standard under which the following groups will be eligible to make appointments to receive the vaccine, pending vaccine availability. These are the groups identified in Phase 1B, Tier 1.
  • Health care workers;
  • Individuals 65+;
  • Education and childcare workers;
  • Emergency services personnel;
  • Food and agriculture workers.
 
Future groups will become eligible based on age. This statewide standard will move in unison across all 58 counties. This will allow the state to scale capacity up while also ensuring the vaccine goes to disproportionately impacted communities. Vaccines will no longer be available based on industry and there will no longer be a “tier” system.

BIDEN PLAN TO EXPAND VACCINE DISTRIBUTION CALLS FOR 200 MILLION MORE DOSES BY SUMMER:*
  • The U.S. will purchase an additional 200 million vaccine doses set to arrive this summer. Biden’s plan will also distribute 10 million doses each week for the next three weeks. Read more

OC SUPERVISORS APPROVE COVID-19 VACCINE EQUITY PILOT PROGRAM:* 

CA WILL IMPLEMENT STATEWIDE VACCINE DELIVERY NETWORK:* 
  • With hopes of expediting the vaccination process, CA launched My Turn, a new system notifying residents when they are eligible for the vaccine. State health officials also announced that people 65 and older, teachers, emergency workers and food and agriculture employees can get appointments for vaccines starting in mid-February. The state is taking broader control after a sluggish start to vaccine distribution. 

EDD IS A HOT MESS– UP TO 27% OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS PAID COULD BE FRAUDULENT:* 
  • OCBC is outraged that Employment Development Department (EDD) can’t get it right; today it confirmed that about 10% of benefits paid—or $11.4 billion—involve fraud, and another 17% are under investigation. This rampant fraud has delayed payments to legitimate claimants. An audit discovered that poor planning and management left EDD unprepared to properly support Californians who are out of work. 

MEMORIALCARE PARTNERS WITH OC HEALTH CARE AGENCY TO PROVIDE COVID VACCINATIONS FOR LAGUNA WOODS VILLAGE RESIDENTS:*
  • Laguna Woods Village is the largest retirement community in Orange County with approximately 18,800 residents. This past weekend, numerous physicians, nurses and staff members of MemorialCare volunteered their time to successfully vaccinate the members of this vulnerable community. Great work MemorialCare!

TOMORROW! 5TH ANNUAL COMMUNITY HEALTH SYMPOSIUM:*
  • Don't miss Laguna Beach Community Clinic's Facing the COVID-19 Challenge: Evidence-Based Guidance for Navigating the Pandemic, with local healthcare experts and a keynote from Shruti Gohil, Associate Medical Director, Epidemiology & Infection Prevention, University of California Irvine Health. Learn more here.
ADVOCACY
BIDEN’S IMMIGRATION PLAN FOR MILLIONS OF UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS:*
  • President Biden unveiled legislation that would create a pathway to citizenship for roughly 10 to 12 million undocumented immigrants, offering expedited green card eligibility to “Dreamers”—undocumented immigrants brought into the U.S. as children as well as those under temporary protected status and farmworkers. Read more

EVICTION MORATORIUM LEGISLATION INTRODUCED:
  • State leaders have collaborated with landlord and tenant advocates to introduce legislation extending CA’s eviction moratorium to June 30, 2021. The agreement allocates $2.6 billion to tenants to pay off unpaid rental debt and offers incentives to landlords who forgive tenant debt, among other protections and policies. This legislation will be included in the budget. Read more.

BUSINESS RESOURCES
IRVINE BUSINESSES: APPLY NOW FOR THIRD DISTRICT SMALL BIZ SUPPORT GRANT: 
  • City of Irvine has opened applications for the Third District Small Business Support grant program, which provides qualifying small businesses with one-time grants of up to $5,000. Applications will be accepted until Friday, January 29. Learn more and contact Irvine staff if you have any questions.  

APPLY NOW – 5TH DISTRICT SMALL BUSINESS GRANT RELIEF PROGRAM: 
  • If your business is in OC’s 5th Supervisorial District, apply now for the Small Business Grant Relief Program. $10,000 grants are being awarded to qualifying applicants on a first come, first served basis. Thank you Supervisor Lisa Bartlett for sponsoring this program! Learn more.

SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
OC HUMAN RELATIONS LAUNCHES “OC TOGETHER” INITIATIVE:* 
  • OC Human Relations’ Orange County Together (OC Together) aims to meet the challenge of addressing racial equality by mobilizing and empowering local organizations to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and supporting them to create and sustain an equitable organizational culture. OC Together is a learning journey to develop skillsets and utilize tools for human resource leaders, executives and others to consider. Learn more

LEARN THE REAL COST OF LIVING IN ORANGE COUNTY: 
  • Join OC United Way for a deep dive into the real cost of Orange County and how we can address the needs of families struggling to get by in the most impactful way. This conversation will be hosted virtually on Thursday, January 28 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Register here

COX CALLS FOR OC HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS TO APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS:   
  • Cox Communications invites high school seniors to apply for college scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $5,000. The deadline to apply is Friday, February 3. Students must live in a Cox service area and meet other eligibility criteria. Learn more about how to apply.   

MWD TO HOST VIRTUAL TOUR OF RECYCLED WATER ADVANCED PURIFICATION CENTER:  
  • On Thursday, January 28, join Metropolitan Water District for a live virtual presentation and tour of the Regional Recycled Water Advanced Purification Center. Learn more about the facility, its innovative purification process and the importance of purified water to Southern California’s future water supply. Register now.

GET TESTED NOW! WHERE TO GET TESTING IN OC

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
TCA’S SAMUEL JOHNSON WINS HUMANITARIAN AMBASSADOR AWARD:
  • Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) CEO Samuel Johnson was honored by the Women in Tolling Council with its 2020 Humanitarian Ambassador award. The Council lauded Johnson for helping create and support the Task Force on Diversity, Social and Racial Inclusion, which works to implement practices and programs that contribute to racial and social justice. Read more.

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RESOURCES
Giving Back
American Red Cross & Blood Donations - Donate blood today!
Caterina's Club Feeds Kids in Need - Donate today to help
Chrysalis Working for 100 – Help 100 people get back to work
Donate, Volunteer or Host a Virtual Food Bank 
Cal State Fullerton - Support Higher Education
Cal State Fullerton - It Takes a Titan Campaign
Colette’s Children’s Home - Donate Today to Help Homeless Women and Children
HCA Accepting Medical Donations - Masks, Gloves, Gowns Needed
Basic supplies needed
OC Food Bank- Donations needed. 
Help students with laptops & other financial assistance
Second Harvest Food Bank - Match My Gift- Every $1 DOUBLES to provide SIX nutritious meals!
Help support Vital Link's STEM and career pathways for students
StandUp For Kids Orange County - Help Homeless Youth
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If you have questions on how to get connected with OCBC online,
contact James Alley, at 714.501.9893 or jalley@ocbc.org.
OCBC works to get you the best information in these difficult times fighting COVID-19, its health and economic impacts. Check your email often for important updates AND follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin. In addition, check out the COVID-19 Resources page on OCBC.org.