COVID-19 Updates
Information compiled from the websites of US Representative Ted Lieu and LA Councilman Paul Koretz
COVID-19 VACCINE UPDATES
Here are the vaccine facts you need to know:
ELIGIBLE NOW: All L.A. residents 65 and older are now eligible for the vaccine in L.A. County, joining healthcare workers, certain essential frontline workers, and residents and staff of skilled nursing facilities on the list of those who can currently get vaccinated. You don’t have to live in the city to come to one of our sites, and if you are a City of L.A. resident, you can go to any L.A. County site as well. For those 65+ who DO NOT have access to the internet, you can call the Call Center at 833-540-0473. It is open seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
UP NEXT: The next eligible group to receive vaccinations will be workers in education and childcare, emergency services, and food and agriculture,as soon as the County and State give the green light. Hopefully the priority will be given to those workers providing childcare who can help get our schools open for our children allowing more people to return to work when it is safe. See what phase you'll be in.
VACCINATION SITES: More than 98 locations are currently vaccinating people in L.A. County. Each week, as doses become available, more sites and providers will administer shots. When your turn arrives, you’ll need to make an appointment through the City portal or the County hub and bring your IDto the site. You can also talk with your doctor about the vaccine.
APPOINTMENTS ARE REQUIRED: At this time you must have a prior appointment in order to be vaccinated.
ELIGIBILITY DOES NOT NECESSARILY INCLUDE FAMILY: The state and county’s phased rollout is based on the risks associated with your job or health factors. These factors may differ within members of the same family or household.
APPOINTMENTS ARE NOT TRANSFERABLE: You should not use any links or appointments that are not addressed to you. You will be asked for identification and will be turned away if you are not the individual who was invited to be vaccinated. Vaccines will be available in a matter of months, if not weeks, and in order to ensure everyone gets a vaccine, it is important that you seek a vaccine when it is your turn.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SECOND SHOT: The COVID-19 vaccine is a two-part inoculation. To achieve the proper level of immunity, you must receive two shots timed 21 or 28 days apart, depending upon the vaccine you receive. It is important to find out which vaccine you receive so that you and your provider can plan for your second shot.
VACCINATIONS DO NOT REPLACE WEARING A MASK AND SOCIAL DISTANCING: We don’t know if vaccines stop spread or how long it might take to build immunity in the population. We all must continue wearing a mask and social distancing. We need to do as much as we can to stop the virus. Vaccines boost your immune system so it will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed –– but researchers are still working to determine whether it also prevents the virus’s spread. The more people who choose to get vaccinated when it is their turn, the faster we will reach a point where the pandemic comes to an end. Therefore, once you are vaccinated, it is important to continue wearing a mask, washing your hands, and social distancing. Together, these tools offer the best protection from COVID-19 until the pandemic is behind us.
Please click here for Frequently Asked Questions where you can also sign up for alerts and updates.
Please click here for the phases and tiers of vaccine distribution.
Please click here for an easy, color-coded way to track distribution in the County
More COVID-19 information:
In the middle of a devastating pandemic, ensuring Americans have access to quality health care coverage is more important than ever. The deadline to sign up for health insurance through Covered California in 2021 is January 31st. You can shop and compare plans today at coveredca.com, and find one that works best for you and your family.
VACCINE UPDATE: LA County residents 65 years and older are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. To make an appointment to be vaccinated, please visit VaccinateLACounty.com or call 833-540-0473 between 8:00 AM and 8:30 PM 7 days a week. Appointment slots are extremely limited, so please check the vaccine site regularly for available appointments and sign up for LA Public Health’s vaccine newsletter.
Your weekly reminder:
This is a difficult and uncertain period for all of us, when many are feeling stressed, anxious or depressed. If you are feeling this way, please know that you are not alone. If you need someone to talk to, please call the LA County Department of Mental Health hotline at (800) 854-7771 or text “LA” to 741741. Please also view the CDC’s guidance for coping with stress and anxiety during a pandemic.
Californians can opt-in to receive Apple or Google notifications if they’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19. CA Notify, the new statewide exposure notification system, is completely anonymous and will never track your location. To help protect your community against COVID-19, please go to canotify.ca.gov and add your phone today.
If you are in need of food assistance; housing relief; information about COVID-19; and more, please call 2-1-1 or visit 211la.org.
Please remember to get your flu shot to stay healthy this season. It is likely that both COVID-19 and the flu will be present at the same time in LA County this year. You can get a flu shot at any local pharmacy. For quick flu facts and frequently asked questions about COVID-19 and the flu, click here.
COVID-19 Updates
From LA County
Last week, the LA County Department of Public Health confirmed the first case of a new COVID-19 variant, which was originally discovered in the United Kingdom. The individual spent time in Los Angeles County and traveled to Oregon, where he is currently isolating. Please remember that all individuals who travel to Los Angeles County from outside the Southern California region engaging in non-essential travel must quarantine for 10 days, even if they are not feeling sick.
Additional Resources
All LA County residents who would like to get tested for COVID-19 should first contact their Primary Care Provider to see if they offer tests. If you cannot access a test through your health care provider, please visit covid19.lacounty.gov/testing or corona-virus.la/covid-19-testing to sign up for a no-cost COVID-19 test. Testing is recommended for those who:
Have symptoms related to COVID-19.
Were asked to get tested by LA Public Health because of a contact tracing investigation.
Were in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 in the past two weeks.
Work or live in a skilled nursing facility; group home; residential care facility; homeless shelter; or correctional facility.
Are experiencing homelessness.
Are an essential worker with frequent contact with the public.
Don’t have symptoms but believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19.
If you live in the City of LA and are unable to drive to a testing site, you can receive a free COVID-19 test at a mobile pop-up location (no appointment necessary). Please click here to view current and upcoming pop-up testing sites.
For updated data on COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in California and LA County, please go to update.covid19.ca.gov and publichealth.lacounty.gov.
On Tuesday, January 19th, LA Public Health hosted a COVID-19 Vaccine Virtual Town Hall to discuss the status of vaccine distribution in LA County. If you missed it, you can watch the full town hall here.
Stay Housed Los Angeles has helpful resources for landlords and renters as they navigate through this difficult period. To read your rights or get legal assistance, please visit stayhousedla.org.
As COVID-19 vaccine distribution begins, please beware of vaccine scams. If someone offers to sell you the vaccine or a chance to get vaccinate before it’s your turn, it’s a scam.
Please remember: a face covering is only effective if it is worn correctly. Please wear your mask tightly over your nose and mouth.
During this challenging time, it can be difficult to feel connected to your community. If you’re looking for ways to connect with other parents and families, LA County Parks is holding virtual Winter Classes. To register for fitness, poetry writing, arts and crafts classes and more, please go to parks.lacounty.gov/winter20.
There is a lot of misinformation about the vaccine circulating on social media and in the news. Please make sure you know the difference between facts and myths surrounding the vaccine.
Volunteers have been essential to California’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are interested in volunteering to safely help those in need, please visit californiavolunteers.ca.gov.
The events of this week have brought a new sense of hope to our nation. I remain confident that we will get through this crisis by working together. Please continue to wash your hands frequently; engage in social distancing and wear a mask in public.