As the global number of coronavirus deaths exceeds 2 million, Los Angeles faces the daunting life-and-death problem of being the nation’s largest COVID-19 hotspot.
In California’s most populous county, Los Angeles is approaching the 1 million case mark, with an average of 10 people testing positive every minute. Public county data also report that every six minutes, someone dies of COVID-19.
This makes many wonder when they will be able to get doses of the rare vaccines in Los Angeles County.
Los Angeles released a vaccination schedule, putting everyone from health professionals to essential professionals to those 65 and older.
Governor Gavin Newsom also announced on January 13 that all elderly people 65 and older were eligible to receive the vaccine, placing them at the top of the list. Recently, LA County Health officials said that the elderly will not have access to the vaccine until all health professionals with direct contact receive or receive the vaccines.
Changes are being made almost daily. Can Woo get a vaccine and when? Patrick Healy reports January 15, 2021.
Elsewhere in Southern California, in Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, people 65 and older have been vaccinated since the announcement. LA and Ventura counties say they need to focus on other groups before bringing in the elderly. Although other counties make older people eligible, there have been problems getting nominations.
Each county is working on a system to allow people to apply, contributing to the rush or information and confusion.
With limited doses of the vaccine – the LA County public health director said there wasn’t enough so far – so who gets the vaccine and when?
See how the schedule splitsand note that schedule estimates of when each group can be vaccinated, it all depends on the state’s prioritization requirements.
Phase 1A – Now until the beginning of February
Phase 1A is for open health workers who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients, says LA County.
This means that “low risk” healthcare professionals, such as administrative staff who have no contact with patients, are low on the list.
When should everyone be offered a vaccine in Phase 1A?
Everyone in Phase 1A is expected to be vaccinated or to receive the vaccine in late January or early February.
Who is in Phase 1A?
Layer 1
- Health workers and residents of specialized nursing facilities
- Health professionals and residents of other long-term care facilities. This group includes facilities that care for older or disabled adults, such as assisted living facilities.
And health professionals in:
- Acute care hospitals
- Acute psychiatric hospitals
- Correctional hospitals
- Dialysis centers
- Emergency medical services, including paramedics and paramedics
- Infusion / oncology centers
- Treatment facilities for residential and hospital substance use disorder (LDS)
- Mental health facilities for inpatients and residential
Layer 2
Health workers in:
- Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) has contracted Short Term Residential Therapeutic Programs (STRTP) and Transitional Shelter Care Program Facilities (TSCF)
- Department of Mental Health
- Home health organizations and home health agencies (home support service personnel)
- Intermediate care facilities (for people who need non-continuous nursing supervision and supportive care)
- Outpatient substance use disorder (LDS) treatment, mental health facilities and crisis stabilization units
- Public health staff who have face-to-face contact with patients / public (for example, during testing, contact tracking, outbreak investigations)
- Primary care clinics, including Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), rural health centers and correctional clinics
- Emergency clinics
- Diversion and Reentry Office (ODR)
- Medical shelters
- Protected and homeless environments that provide direct clinical care to people living on the streets
- Field-based community health workers, including prosecutors (including those involved in testing, contact tracking or support services for people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19)
- Regional Centers
- Employees who have face-to-face contact with people living on the streets
Level 3
Health professionals who qualify as:
- Acupuncturists
- Chiropractors
- COVID-19 test
- Death Care (mortuary)
- Dentists and other oral health clinics
- Laboratories
- Occupational Health
- Optometry clinics
- Pharmacies (if not working in higher-level environments)
- Physiotherapists / occupational therapists (if not working in higher level environments)
- School and university health centers
- Specialized clinics
- Speech Therapists
- Surgery centers
Phase 1B – early February to late March
People in Phase 1B are not you are still allowed to get vaccines.
When can people in 1B be vaccinated?
The timeline is looking like early February. By the end of March, everyone in 1B should receive at least one dose of the vaccine, estimates LA County.
1B Tier 1
- People aged 65 and over
And those at risk of exposure at work in the following sectors:
- Education
- Childcare
- Emergency services
- Food and Agriculture
1B Level 2
People at risk of exposure at work in the following sectors:
- Transportation and logistics
- Industrial, commercial, residential and shelter facilities and services
- Critical manufacturing
- Aggregate sets with risk of outbreak: incarcerated and homeless
Phase 1C – March to early May
Those in Phase 1C are not still eligible for the vaccine.
When can people in Phase 1C receive the vaccine?
The estimated schedule starts in March. LA County Health estimates that everyone at this stage will receive at least one dose of the vaccine in late April and early May.
Who is in this group?
- People from 50 to 64 years old
- Persons 16 to 49 years of age and with an underlying health condition or disability that increases the risk of severe COVID-19
- People at risk of exposure at work in the following sectors:
- Water and sewage
- Defense
- Energy
- Chemical and hazardous materials
- Communications and IT
- Financial services
- Government operations / core community-based functions
Phase 2 – mid-May or early June
People listed in Phase 2 are not still eligible for vaccines.
When can people in the Phase 2 group get vaccines?
Phase 2 students are estimated to be eligible in mid-May or early June.
Who is in phase 2?
- People aged 16 to 49 without high-risk medical conditions
Find out where you are in the vaccine line with this interactive tool.
When can I get the vaccine?
Answer the questions to calculate your risk profile and see where you fit the vaccine list for your county and state. This estimate is based on a combination of vaccine distribution recommendations from the CDC and the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine.
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Need to know more?
Here is a FAQ on vaccine distribution, answering everything from “how long will the general vaccination take?” possible side effects of getting the vaccine.
See more information about LA County here.
To learn more about the Orange County vaccination schedule, click here.
To find out more about Riverside County vaccine clinics, click here.
To learn more about the San Bernardino County vaccination schedule, click here.
To learn more about Ventura County’s vaccination schedule, click here.