From the ACTION TOOLKIT:

 

Contact California Officials

 

Contact Governor Gavin Newsom

  • Click HERE to email him
  • Or call at 916-445-2841

Email California Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly 

  • Click HERE to email him  

Email Dr. Tomas Aragon, Director, California Dept of Public Health 

  • Click HERE to email him

 

Sample Phone Scripts and Email Messages:

 

Script 1: Hello. My name is______. I am a California resident. I am ____ (disabled/higher weight/a person with X condition). I am at high risk related to COVID and I need to get vaccinated. The new guidelines to only vaccinate by age leave out people like me who are at high risk for becoming very sick with COVID. Other states are vaccinating high risk people of all ages. Please do the right thing and vaccinate everyone at high risk of any age. And don’t discriminate — all vaccination sites should serve people with disabilities and medical conditions.

 

Script 2: Hello. My name is______. I am a California resident. I am _____ (a parent of a child with X; married to a person who…;  an ally to the senior,  disability, and higher weight communities; etc.). There are many people who are high risk for COVID who need to get vaccinated. The new guidelines to only vaccinate by age leave out people who are at high risk for becoming very sick with COVID. Other states are vaccinating high risk people of all ages. Please do the right thing and vaccinate everyone at high risk of any age. And don’t discriminate — all vaccination sites should serve people with disabilities and medical conditions.

 

Optional Talking Points

  • Governor Newsom: make sure that high-risk people of all ages get vaccinated.
  • Black, Latinx, Indigenos, and certain communities of color are being hard-hit by COVID, especially people who are higher weight or have medical conditions.  
  • Seniors, disabled, and higher weight people, essential workers, and folks in congregate settings are working together on this — don’t pit us against each other.
  • Disabled people should be able to get vaccinated at all sites – discrimination is not ok. 

 

Share on social media!

Use the hashtags: #VaccineEquity #HighRiskCA #NoBodyIsDisposable 

 

Sample social media posts:

  • Why is @GavinNewsom pushing back vaccine priority for some of the most high-risk people in our state? #HighRiskCA
  • Ohio has already vaccinated 1000s of people with disabilities that put them at high risk for COVID-19. Why not CA? @GavinNewsome #HighRiskCA
  • 90% of people age 70+ who’ve been vaccinated are white, while the majority of deaths and cases are people of color. Age-only prioritization is racist and deadly! #HighRiskCA
  • 50% of COVID-19 deaths in CA are Latinx people. @GavinNewsom has reopened restaurants instead of addressing racism in public health.
  • Disabled Californians are not getting necessary healthcare because we’re at high risk for COVID-19. Does @GavinNewsom care? #HighRiskCA

 

Watch the February 1 Online Action for Vaccine Equity

 

For more information and ideas, visit the ACTION TOOLKIT