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Thursday, August 26, 2021 | View as Webpage
PFIZER FULLY FDA APPROVED, JOIN OCBC'S LEA RECEPTION, APPLY FOR CLEAN TRUCKS GRANT, COVID-19 ANSWERS AND MORE!
HOT OFF THE PRESS
PFIZER IS FULLY FDA APPROVED - GET VACCINATED TODAY:
FDA approval could be the key to break through vaccine hesitancy and misinformation for unvaccinated workers. See below for effective messages that boost COVID-19 vaccine confidence.
  • On August 23, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued full approval for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for people ages 16 and older. The vaccine will now be marketed as Comirnaty. 
  • Full approval by the FDA means that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (Comirnaty) now has the same level of approval as other vaccines routinely used in the U.S., such as vaccines for hepatitis, measles, chicken pox and polio. Full approval represents the FDA’s highest level of confidence in a drug’s safety and effectiveness.
  • FDA’s full approval of the first COVID-19 vaccine is an important milestone that should reassure anyone who has concerns about getting vaccinated.
  • Vaccines are free and widely available at more than 80,000 locations across the country, including at over 40,000 retail pharmacies. Ninety percent of Americans live within five miles of a vaccine site.
Search vaccines.gov, text your ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find locations near you.

DON'T MISS OCBC'S ANNUAL LEA RECEPTION:
  • Join OCBC virtually on August 31 to celebrate 17 years of helping families succeed through the LEA program. Formerly “Latino Educational Attainment,” LEA is now “Leading Educational Attainment for Families” as the program has expanded to meet the needs of OC’s ever-growing ethnic diversity. LEA changes the lives of hundreds of families every year by educating and empowering them to be active in their child’s educational attainment. Hear from the families who have graduated from this program, as well as a special message from Congressman Lou Correa. Sponsor supported and complimentary to attend. Register today!

GRANT FUNDING FOR CLEAN TRUCKS – APPLY NOW!
  • Are you in the goods movement industry? Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is accepting applications for the Last Mile Freight Program (LMFP), a grant with $10 million available for private operators to support the commercial deployment of natural gas, electric, and other clean technologies for heavy- and medium-duty trucks, equipment and fueling infrastructure. Applications are due Sep. 22. Email lmfp@scag.ca.gov for more information.

ICYMI! CATCH UP ON OCBC'S LATEST EVENTS:
OCBC’s guest speakers and panelists have shared critical insights on our local, state and national economy, flexible work and inclusivity, the pandemic’s impact on minority- and women-owned businesses, what’s new and what’s next in health care, and more!
ANSWERS TO TOUGH COVID-19 QUESTIONS
‍‍What’s the difference between Emergency Use Authorization and full approval?
Full FDA approval takes longer than Emergency Use Authorization because more data needs to be processed and reviewed over a longer period of time. When a product is fully approved by the FDA, patients can be assured that its recommendation is grounded in large amounts of scientific data. Full approval represents the FDA’s highest level of confidence in a drug’s safety and effectiveness

Why is Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine not yet fully approved for adolescents ages 12 through 15?
Pfizer’s application for FDA approval was for use in individuals ages 16 and older. Pfizer plans to request full approval for adolescents ages 12 to 15 once it has collected and analyzed six months of safety data from clinical trial participants. Emergency Use Authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine remains in place for adolescents ages 12 through 15, and the CDC continues to recommend that everyone ages 12 and older get vaccinated against COVID-19.
What went into full approval?
Additional analysis of the effectiveness and safety data from tens of thousands of clinical trial participants, as well as the analysis of real-world safety data. According to Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, “Our scientific and medical experts conducted an incredibly thorough and thoughtful evaluation of this vaccine. We evaluated scientific data and information included in hundreds of thousands of pages, conducted our own analyses of Comirnaty’s safety and effectiveness, and performed a detailed assessment of the manufacturing processes, including inspections of the manufacturing facilities.”
Are the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines safe?
Yes! The FDA’s approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine doesn’t make any of the other vaccines currently authorized by the FDA any less safe or effective. All three COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized or approved in the U.S. are extremely safe and effective. The vast majority of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths in recent months have been among the unvaccinated. The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines will continue to be safely administered through emergency use authorization as the FDA reviews data about their real-world use. Moderna's application for full approval of its COVID-19 vaccine is currently under review by the FDA.
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
CITY OF HOPE-LED 'CANCER PATIENTS BILL OF RIGHTS' PASSES IN CA:
  • Last week the State Assembly of California passed the first in the nation Cancer Patients Bill of Rights, joining the State Senate in adopting this resolution. The statement calls for six rights that every cancer patient in CA should have from the moment of diagnosis to ensure they have access to the care that they need. Way to go, City of Hope! Learn more.
ADVOCACY
OCBC CALLS OUT ANTI-HOUSING GREENPRINT PLAN:
  • On Tuesday, OCBC and business and development leaders outlined issues with Southern California Association of Government’s (SCAG) SoCal Greenprint. Regional mapping tools intended to improve the region should not threaten the ability to solve CA’s housing crisis by adding unnecessary legal and cost barriers, which what Greenprint will do without changes. Business voices dominated the hearing with the ask that SCAG limit the tool to open space / agricultural lands and use only data from government sources. Read our letter here and click here for more info.

PROP 22 STRUCK DOWN AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL:
  • Proposition 22, an OCBC-supported ballot measure classifying app-based drivers as independent contractors that passed with 58% voter support, was struck down as unconstitutional. The initiative was in response to AB 5 (2019), a detrimental law designating gig workers as full-time employees which limits flexibility for both employers and workers. Despite Prop 22 providing workers with an earnings guarantee and health care, this ruling could place unprecedented new burdens on app-based services. The decision will be appealed. Learn more.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
TOMORROW! TUNE IN TO LEARN WHAT THE DELTA VARIANT MEANS FOR OC:
  • Join OC Forum at noon tomorrow for "The Future of: The Delta Variant" to hear from a panel of distinguished experts on what the continuing spread of the variant means for OC schools and businesses. RSVP now!

ORANGE COUNTY HOUSING TRUST + DISNEYLAND + JAMBOREE HOUSING = GOOD HOPE:
  • Jamboree recently Housing celebrated the grand opening of Buena Esperanza, meaning "good hope", an adaptive reuse of an old Econo Lodge into Permanent Supportive Housing for those experiencing homelessness. "The lack of housing supply in all categories in Orange County exacerbates the issue for the county's most vulnerable residents. That's where the business community comes in. The Orange County Housing Trust is made up of private sector donors contributing last-mile funding for projects like this, which was kickstarted by a leadership donation and challenge grant of $5 million by the Disneyland Resort,” said Lucy Dunn, OCBC's President and CEO. Learn more.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND MEETINGS
EVENTS
LEA Reception
August 31 | 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Formerly “Latino Educational Attainment,” LEA is now “Leading Educational Attainment for Families” as the program has expanded to meet the needs of Orange County’s ever-growing ethnic diversity. LEA changes the lives of hundreds of families every year by educating and empowering them to be active in their child’s educational attainment. Join OCBC virtually on August 31 to celebrate 17 years of helping these families succeed! Register for free here. Thank you title sponsor, SoCalGas.

2021 Orange County Community Indicators Report Rollout
September 16 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Join OCBC virtually for the release of the 2021-22 Community Indicators Report that tracks the region’s health, prosperity, and where the county is performing and making progress. Hear from Dr. Wallace Walrod, OCBC's Chief Economic Advisor, on a broad range of robust, data-rich reports that track issues of importance on a regular basis. Thank you title sponsor, Amazon.
Register today! For more information contact Lauren Martin, OCBC Events Manager.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS*
September 2 | 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Join OCBC virtually for a meeting with Gustavo Velasquez, Director of the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
OCBC members, contact Connor Medina, OCBC Government Affairs Manager, to register.

September 10 | 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
OCBC members, contact Connor Medina, OCBC Government Affairs Manager, to register.

September 14 | 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
OCBC members, contact Connor Medina, OCBC Government Affairs Manager, to register.

September 15 | 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Join OCBC virtually for the opportunity to hear Jim Mayfield, Director, U.S. Export Assistance Center-Orange County, discuss the impacts of the pandemic on trade in the Orange County and Southern California region and Treyland Bradley, Senior Business Development Specialist – Los Angeles Region, Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development discuss California's pandemic business recovery programs.
OCBC members, register here.

*OCBC Committee meetings are an exclusive benefit offered to OCBC members.
NOT AN OCBC MEMBER? JOIN TODAY!
Join OCBC and connect with the most influential companies and top executives actively engaged in creating a pro-business environment and prosperous economy. Hundreds of Orange County's leading businesses, cities and non-profit organizations represent an elite group from every industry cluster. But we need YOUR VOICE! For more info, contact Natalie Rubalcava, OCBC Chief Operating Officer.