Good morning, LA. It’s February 12th.
As local cases of coronavirus and deaths start to decrease, the focus of many residents is shifting from testing to vaccination.
We report the numerous stumbling blocks in the launch of vaccination, uneven distribution for confusion about the second dose for inadequate supply. Now, another problem is arising: top-down communication failures about who is eligible to take the photos.
My colleague Jackie Fortiér, which has been covering the pandemic and health closely, reports that despite being considered health professionals – the first group eligible for the vaccine – parents and caregivers of people with disabilities are not getting access consistently inoculation.
“The world’s culture of vaccine implantation is now the Wild West,” said Andy Imparato, executive director of California Disability Rights.
The confusion is caused in part by the number of health departments in California, many of whom are making their own decisions about vaccine implantation. LA County alone has three; that of the municipality itself, another in Pasadena and a third in Long Beach.
Another contributing factor is insufficient training; several families Jackie spoke with reported being refused at vaccination sites by workers who did not believe they were eligible, or accused them of bringing false documentation.
And the turbulence is exacerbated by long, confusing and sometimes overlapping lists of who qualifies as a health worker.
LA County Department of Public Health lists 38 jobs and employers that qualify a person as a health worker. California describes the health sector as “large, diverse and open, covering the public and private sectors”, listing 22 types of workers, many of whom are subdivided into dozens of specific jobs.
And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States doesn’t care about jobs, instead defining health professionals as “all paid and unpaid people who serve in healthcare settings that have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials”, followed by a long list of qualifying factors.
In other words, it would be difficult for anyone to analyze these lists and understand who can get the vaccine and who cannot. In the absence of clarifying instructions from state and local governments, it may take a while before everyone is on the same page.
Keep reading to learn more about what’s happening in LA todayand stay safe outside.
What else you need to know today
- State legislators introduced legislation that would make California pay the children’s school lunch bill, instead of allowing their families to accumulate a balance because they can’t pay.
- Britney Spears’ father is is no longer his only conservative, after a long struggle in court.
- Public defenders are weighing the benefits and risks to work in the courts.
- As part of our Black in LA series, a LAist contributor writes about LA as a city of contradictions, which embraces diversity, but still fights against – and even perpetuates – racism.
- Sheriff’s Department built a helipad on land next to Sheriff Alex Villanueva’s house, drawing the ire of SoCalGas.
- Here’s what to do if you do not receive an email about your second dose, or if you are rejected when you show up to take it.
- The sensei karate that trains one of Snake Kaiactors of talks about martial arts in San Fernando Valley, working with Netflix and real-life inter-dojo feuds.
- Some Bald Eagles at Big Bear welcomed the fourth egg after losing three in January.
- The pandemic has made home cooks amused, and now they are changing the way LA eats.
- This weekend, celebrate the Year of the Ox, drink martinis with Nick and Nora, check out some options of poon choi and heart-shaped pizzas, and more.
Weekend readings
There’s a lot going on in the world right now, and it’s hard enough to keep up with our day-to-day lives, let alone stay up to date with the news. But if you have any time this weekend, here’s what you may have missed:
Diane Edith Watson, 87, was the the first African American woman elected to the LAUSD Council, and she went on to serve in state and local politics for decades. (LA Sentinel)
Community land trusts may be the future of affordable housing in LA (LAist)
Activists worry that Latin immigrants / who lack the necessary technology, transport or experience navigating the local bureaucracy are facing high challenges in accessing the vaccine. (San Fernando Sun)
A mobile vaccination clinic was launched for seniors living in South Los Angeles. (LA Watts Times)
I have a spare $ 3 million? This desert city can be yours. (LAist)
This underground fighting club is gaining respect among the best in LA. (LA Taco)
The Epiphany Church in Lincoln Heights was added to the National Register of Historic Places due to its role in the 1960s Chicane movement.The Eastsider)
A small domestic community in North Hollywood is providing shelter for Angelenos who are homeless. (LAist)
Ruth Zamora, 97, who lived in the city of San Fernando throughout his life, was one of the first people to be vaccinated in the area. (San Fernando Sun)
Before I go … I want to talk about Friends?
We are starting a new series of events! If you, like many of us, have been doing nostalgic television programs, join us to talk about them at Clube Piloto de TV.
At our first meeting, hosted by LAist Arts and Entertainment Reporter Mike Roe, we’re going to discuss and unpack the debut episode of Friends – what remains, and what really, same do not. Join us to “The One Where It Began” on February 18th from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm PST. for an interactive conversation.
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