The City of West Hollywood is getting the word out that Los Angeles County residents who are 65 years old and older can now register for COVID-19 vaccination appointments.
Residents in this age group should visit www.VaccinateLACounty.com to schedule appointments, which began on Wednesday, January 20, 2021. Residents who do not have computer access may call (833) 540-0473 between 8 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. for assistance.
The vaccine supply is still extremely limited, and Los Angeles County continues to urge patience as it works urgently with federal and state partners to expand capacity and supply in the weeks ahead. The vaccine will be offered to different groups of people at different times. When enough vaccines are ready, it will be offered to the general population.
“Getting vaccinated is a critical step in protecting one another, safeguarding our communities, and getting back to normal,” said City of West Hollywood Mayor Lindsey P. Horvath. “Our Public Health officials are working around the clock to get as many vaccines out as quickly as possible, and I urge all of us to be patient during this process. I’m thrilled that the County has announced that eligibility is expanded beyond healthcare workers and skilled nursing/long-term care facilities, so that people who are 65 and older in our communities can get the vaccine. We know that COVID-19 can be significantly more severe, even deadlier, for seniors. Please, if you are eligible to receive the COVID-19, do so as soon as possible to help protect yourself and your loved ones.”
Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been shown to be safe and very effective in large studies that involved a diverse mix of people. These vaccines prevented 95 percent of cases of COVID-19 disease. Children will not be offered vaccine in the near future. The Pfizer vaccine has only been authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for people age 16 and over and the Moderna vaccine is only authorized for people age 18 and over.
To ensure that people at higher risk of transmission and illness are vaccinated first, Los Angeles County has established a phased system:
• Frontline Healthcare Workers
• Staff & Residents at Skilled Nursing Facilities
• Staff & Residents at Long-Term Care Facilities
Phase 1B, Tier 1 — Los Angeles County is also actively vaccinating in Phase 1B, Tier 1, which means:
• All people age 65 and over are now eligible for vaccination.
Phase 1B, Tier 2 — The estimated timeline for the next phase, Phase 1B, Tier 2 is February 2021, which will include:
• Those at risk of exposure at work in the following sectors: transportation and logistics; industrial, commercial, residential, and sheltering facilities and services; and critical manufacturing.
• Those in congregate settings with outbreak risk including people who are incarcerated and people who are experiencing homelessness.
Phase 1C — Vaccines are not yet available to persons listed in Phase 1C, which is estimated to be in March 2021. Prioritization in this phase will include people 50 to 64 years of age and people 16 to 49 years of age who have an underlying health condition or disability, which increases their risk of severe COVID-19, as well as those at risk of exposure at work in certain sectors.
For details about phases, visit the LA County Public Health website at http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/covidvaccinedistribution.
