COVID-19 RESOURCES
FOR UP-TO-DATE INFO, GO TO THE
211-LA COVID 19 PAGE
VA Greater Los Angeles (GLA) Healthcare System is now offering Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster shots under Emergency Use Authorization. This decision follows the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authorization and CDC recommendation for a booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. In order to receive a booster dose, you must have received the Pfizer vaccine and it must be at least six months after you completed your vaccine series. Per the CDC’s recommendations, GLA is offering booster shots to the following groups:
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People 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine
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People aged 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine
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People aged 18–49 years with underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine, based on their individual benefits and risk
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People aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine, based on their individual benefits and risks
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Veterans’ spouses, caregivers and CHAMPVA recipients under the authority of the SAVE LIVES Act, may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine as supply and capacity permits
Booster vaccines are available at all of GLA’s medical facilities during scheduled vaccine clinic hours. Those who aren’t part of the first two groups listed, must schedule an appointment by calling 310-268-4900. GLA has the ability to administer booster doses at the West Los Angeles (WLA) campus on a walk in basis; our other sites will accommodate walk-ins as vaccine supply allows. If you belong to one of the groups listed and do not receive care at WLA, please call 310-268-4900 to schedule an appointment at the GLA medical facility closest to you in order to ensure timely receipt of your booster vaccine.
Please email VHAGLAPublicAffairs@va.gov if you have any questions.
Pfizer Booster Available to Eligible Residents
Following CDC’s endorsement of a recommendation for a booster dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in several population groups, eligible L.A. County residents can begin receiving their booster doses at any of the hundreds of sites offering the Pfizer vaccine.
L.A. County residents eligible for a booster dose of Pfizer include the following groups of people who received the second of the two-dose Pfizer vaccine series at least 6 months ago and are either:
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People aged 65 years or older
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Residents of long-term care facilities
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People aged 18 to 64 years with underlying medical conditions
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People aged 18 to 64 years with high institutional or occupational risk, including healthcare workers, first responders, teachers and day care staff, grocery workers, and workers in homeless shelters or prisons, among others
Residents who received Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines will need to wait until the FDA reviews the data and determines the need for and safety of boosters for these vaccines.
Those not yet vaccinated can make an appointment to get vaccinated by using the MyTurn system. Eligible residents who completed their two-dose Pfizer vaccine series at least six months ago can also make an appointment for their boosters by using the MyTurn system or by making an appointment at a pharmacy or clinic that offers Pfizer vaccinations.
Residents will need to bring proof they received two previous Pfizer doses, which for most people will be in the form of the white vaccination card, or a photo of the white card, or a digital record of your two doses. At many sites, residents may be asked to sign an attestation form indicating they meet the criteria to receive the Pfizer booster.
Learn more at vaccinatelacounty.com.
COVID-19 Newsletter - Issue 4 - September 15, 2021
School Districts to Require All Students 12 and Older to be
Vaccinated Against COVID-19
As part of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s efforts to provide the safest possible environment in which to learn and work, all students 12 years old and older will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by January 10, 2022, unless they have a medical or other exemption. This follows a similar announcement to require student vaccinations made by Culver City Unified School District.
To date, schools across the county are implementing robust safety measures including daily health checks for everyone going onto school campuses, indoor masking, comprehensive COVID-19 testing, contact tracing and isolation of cases, increased sanitization/cleaning of school buildings, and upgraded ventilation. Requiring eligible students and staff to be vaccinated provides a powerful additional layer of protection to everyone in the school community.
COVID-19: Help for San Pedro Residents
Although these are challenging times, our community has come together like never before in the fight against COVID-19. Please remember, by staying home and taking simple actions to mitigate the spread of this virus, you are saving lives. Continue to wash your hands frequently, practice social distancing, and wear a mask in public.
COVID-19 TESTING IN LA COUNTY
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, or if you are unable to drive to a testing site, please visit https://covid19.lacounty.gov/testing/ or https://corona-virus.la/covid-19-testing to sign up for a no-cost COVID-19 test.
VACCINE DISTRIBUTION IN LA COUNTY – Stay up to date on the latest vaccine developments. http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/covidvaccinedistribution/
WATCH OUT FOR VACCINE SCAMS
Please be on the look-out for scams related to the COVID-19 vaccine. If someone offers to sell you a vaccine before it’s your turn, it’s a scam. For more information, please click http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/coronavirus/docs/about/COVIDVaccineScams.pdf
STATE OF CALIFORNIA SAFE SCHOOLS FOR ALL HUB
A one-stop shop for state guidance on safely returning to school. The site houses resources for school administrators as well as students and parents related to COVID-19 and schools. https://schools.covid19.ca.gov/
Los Angeles Unified School District has a Mental Health Hotline available to students, families and educators. Call 213-241-3840 Link to website: https://achieve.lausd.net/shhs
MANDATORY QUARANTINE DIRECTIVE ON TRAVEL
Reminder: All travelers arriving in LA County must quarantine for 10 days following the date of arrival, even if you don’t feel sick. http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/docs/protocols/Directive_Travel.pdf
MENTAL HEALTH
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.
