COVID-19 BRIEFS: New Omicron Cases, Community Org’s, Key to Vaccine Equity, Marking Year Anniversary of First C-19 Vaccine and Progress

Los Angeles County Reports Three Additional Cases of the Omicron Variant

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) Dec. 15, has received confirmation of three additional cases of COVID-19 with mutations consistent with the new Omicron variant (B.1.1.529).  Two of the three newly infected individuals did not travel; the third person recently traveled domestically.  All three individuals are fully vaccinated and experienced either no symptoms or mild illness.  Close contacts have been identified, notified, and are getting tested.

Additionally, all residents across LA County should continue:

• Getting tested to help reduce the spread, especially if you traveled for the holidays, have had a possible exposure, have symptoms, or are gathering indoors with non-household members
• Adhering to masking requirements when indoors or at large outdoor mega events, regardless of vaccination status

Residents are also reminded that they are legally required to isolate if they have a positive COVID test result and that vaccinated close contacts with symptoms and unvaccinated close contacts need to quarantine.

Partnerships with Community Based Organizations is Key to Vaccine Equity Issues

As cases of COVID-19 continue to rise, efforts to improve vaccine equity across the county’s most diverse communities remain a top priority for Public Health and community organizations across the county.  

Community organizations have employed hundreds of health educators and health workers to provide residents in hard hit communities with resources and information.  As of Dec. 14, these efforts have resulted in more than 350,000 outreach activities, including support for 2,000 in-person vaccination events and 11,000 virtual COVID-19 educational sessions. Combined, these efforts have reached more than 2.3 million residents to date. 

More than four hundred local faith-based organizations have been critical, reaching out to their congregants and neighbors to sponsor more than 813 mobile vaccination clinics throughout the county, including mobile clinics at churches, mosques, and temples. To date, nearly 53,000 doses of vaccines have been administered at faith-based clinics, and an estimated 50,000 additional doses are expected to be administered at these clinics through early 2022. 

Unique initiatives, including the TRAP Medicine’s barbershop outreach in South L.A, are tailored to provide information to younger Black and Latinx men, many who are not yet vaccinated. These partnerships and strategies have enabled in-person engagement with nearly 45,000 men in South L.A. since Nov. 1 2021.  Countywide, these efforts have reached 300,000 men either virtually or in person over the last few months

Governor Newsom Marks One-Year Anniversary of First COVID Vaccine in California

SACRAMENTO – California Dec.14, marked the one-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 vaccine administered in the state. Gov. Gavin Newsom the same day released his latest “On the Record” ethnic media column highlighting California’s nation-leading measures to slow the spread of the virus and the imperative to continue the state’s progress with lifesaving boosters and vaccinations as we head into the winter months.

California has put more shots in arms than any other state – administering more than 62.7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine – with 86% of all eligible Californians having received at least one dose and more than 6 million adults have received a booster.

Click here to read the latest column.

Amid an uptick in transmission since Thanksgiving, Gov. Newsom urged all eligible Californians to get vaccinated and receive their booster – the most impactful steps to take to protect residents and slow the spread of the virus. Boosters have been approved for those 16 and up who received the Pfizer vaccine at least six months ago, those 18 and up who received the Moderna vaccine at least six months before and those 18 and over who got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago.

Through the last year, California has launched first-in-the-nation vaccine measures, including requiring that workers in health care settings be fully vaccinated, adding the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of vaccinations required to attend school in-person when fully authorized for applicable grade spans, and implementing a standard that all school staff and all state workers either show proof of full vaccination or be tested at least once per week.  

Governor Newsom also highlighted the state’s partnerships with more than 130 faith-based and 700 community-based organizations, which have helped close vaccination equity gaps in hard-to-reach communities.

With COVID-19 case rates and hospitalizations increasing, the California Department of Public Health or CDPH has issued updated guidance to curb the spread of COVID-19 and its variants. Since Dec. 15, the state requires masks to be worn in all indoor public settings irrespective of vaccine status through Jan. 15, 2022, at which point California will make further recommendations as needed in response to the pandemic. CDPH has also updated requirements for attending mega events and issued a new travel advisory, more information can be found here.

Details: Visit MyTurn.ca.gov or call 1-833-422-4255

www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) or www.VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish). 

833-540-0473 to make an appointment or find a walk-in clinic.