Residents Encouraged to Get Updated COVID-19 Vaccine for Maximum Protection Against Severe Illness

As the new updated COVID-19 vaccine becomes available across Los Angeles County, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health or Public Health encourages residents to get vaccinated in order to have the best protection against severe illness, hospitalization, long COVID and death from COVID-19.

A newly available COVID-19 vaccine, with no out-of-pocket cost regardless of insurance or immigration status, is recommended for everyone six-months and older, even if they received an earlier vaccine, had COVID-19 previously or have never been vaccinated against COVID-19 before. Immunity to COVID infections wanes over time and with new variant strains circulating, there is increased potential for infection. The updated vaccine is safe and provides effective protection against severe illness from COVID-19 strains that are circulating now.

Residents 6 months and older should receive at least one dose of the updated vaccine. To maximize protection, it is recommended that a person wait two months since their last dose if they have been recently vaccinated against COVID-19 or they can wait up to three months after a COVID infection.  For children under 5 years old or people who are immunocompromised, Public Health recommends speaking to a provider about the most effective timing and dosing for the updated COVID-19 vaccine; multiple doses of the updated vaccine may be recommended.

Certain groups of people, including people over 65, people who are pregnant, and people with underlying or chronic conditions, are more susceptible to severe outcomes from COVID-19 and should prioritize vaccination. For groups who are more vulnerable and the general public, Public Health has compiled information online at: publichealth.lacounty.gov/vaccines/.

Information is available seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., from the Public Health Call Center at 1-833-540-0473. 

Due to the number of COVID-19 cases that are not reported to Public Health, wastewater concentrations of SARS CoV-2 provide more complete information about transmission levels in the community. This measure tracks virus levels in wastewater and is not dependent on cases reported or captured through testing. For the last reporting period, SARS CoV-2 wastewater concentrations were at 38% of the 2022-2023 Winter Peak, indicating continued elevated rates of community transmission. The wastewater concentrations have been steadily increasing, slowly, for the past seven weeks since Aug. 2, when the county reported wastewater concentrations that were 12% of the winter 2022-23 peak.

However, hospitalization rates remain steady. Los Angeles County remains in the CDC Low Hospital Admission Level with 7.6 weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 people, reported on Sept. 18 for the seven-day period ending Sept. 9.