Los Angeles County supervisors aim to make the mammoth task of delivering millions of vaccines equitable, accessible and brisk — but the enduring lack of doses still prevent their ambitious plans from truly shifting into gear.
Supervisors nonetheless responded to lingering confusion about first and second doses, as well as concerns about access for low-income residents, in communities of color and among technology-challenged senior citizens by pushing forward on the county’s under-construction vaccination strategy by tapping neighboring cities, community centers and school campuses around the region.
Elected officials and top health leaders have been increasingly raising the alarm about inadequate supplies and the need for earlier and more reliable estimates of how much vaccine is on the way.
In response, the Biden administration said Tuesday it plans to buy another 100 million doses each from drugmakers Pfizer and Moderna. Even more vaccine could be available if federal scientists approve a single-dose shot from Johnson & Johnson, which is expected to seek emergency authorization in the coming weeks.
“We need to build a very large and flexible vaccination program for L.A. County,” said the county’s public health chief Barbara Ferrer. Ferrer and various board members expressed optimism that Biden’s team will be more transparent about future supply, which could also make distribution more efficient and plotted deeper into the calendar.
The board’s action came amid an atmosphere of optimism and tension as the county opened up hair and nail salons Wednesday and braced for a huge wave of openings on Friday, including the return of outdoor dining. Cardroom casinos, recreational facilities, zoos and aquariums will be allowed to open outdoors, all at 50% capacity. The county still requires non-essential retail businesses to be closed between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., but that restriction may be lifted Friday when the new health order is released.
The county’s virus statistics — while still at heightened levels that are deeply taxing thin local hospital staffing, space and resources — are gradually grinding downward.
Hospitalizations slipped to 6,213 according to the state dashboard, down by almost 100 from Monday and significantly lower than the recent peak of more than 8,000, with about a quarter of patients in intensive-care units.
The county reported 291 COVID-19 deaths Tuesday, lifting the countywide toll to 15,592, and 5,927 new cases, for a pandemic-wide total of 1,085,044.
The daily county update did not include the latest totals from Pasadena and Long Beach, which operate their own health departments. Long Beach’s death toll surpassed 600, climbing to 618, and the city reported 356 more coronavirus cases, for a total of 46,833 — meaning about 10% of the city’s population has tested positive for the virus at some point. Pasadena’s 88 new cases raised its total to 9,944, but its death toll remained at 237.
“We still have a lot of people in our hospitals,” Ferrer said. “We still have a lot people passing infections from themselves to others. And unfortunately, we’re going to see a lot more people dying in the next few weeks.”
“We’re not out of the woods,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “We cannot let our guard down. Vaccinations are only one component to controlling the coronavirus in our communities.”
Battling sluggish supply
Ferrer said more than 300 sites across the county are registered to distribute vaccines, but only a fraction of them are up and running, because there’s such sparse supply.
The board approved two motions that start to forge future phases of the rollout: One that would prompt partnerships with surrounding cities and agencies to allocate vaccine, and another to partner with local school districts to serve as vaccination sites.
Their actions Tuesday do not mean an immediate shift in who is being vaccinated. Currently, only the county’s 800,000 healthcare workers and the 1.3 million people over 65 are eligible. It’s unclear when that list will widen.
The rollout of Phase 1A has been plagued by shortfalls in dosages arriving from the federal government, distribution issues and confusion over who can get vaccinated.
Locally, officials have said they hope to begin vaccinates for Phase 1B in February. But timelines are tenuous. The first tier of that group includes education and childcare workers, emergency services workers and food and agriculture crews.
The board’s action — motioned by Supervisors Janice Hahn and Kathryn Barger — directs the County Emergency Operations Center to coordinate with the Department of Public Health and local cities and other community agencies, to provide a vaccination plan for Phase 1B. The plan would come back to the Board in two weeks for approval.
Throughout the pandemic’s lifespan, the lack of coordination among agencies has spurred continual critique from local officials — with questions over why federal and local authorities don’t seem to be on the same page. On Tuesday, several local cities and agencies welcomed the beefed -up planning effort.
Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia told the board that his city, which has its own health department, stands ready to help vaccinate residents in surrounding cities.
“We would love the county to consider allocating its vaccine for the cities around us,” Garcia said.
Garcia’s city was instrumental in distributing virus testing earlier on in pandemic to such places as its tiny neighbor, Signal Hill.
Schools in soon
Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Austin Beutner told the board that school sites can be hubs of trust.
“While supplies may be today’s problem, tomorrow’s will become access and trust,” he said, “and we believe school-based efforts can help provide access, equity and build the trust and support of the communit.”
Since early in the pandemic, Beutner has maintained that more than 1,400 LAUSD school sites are “uniquely situated,” particularly in areas that may otherwise lack access to healthcare.
And, Beutner added, they have accessible existing infrastructure — including such features as electricity, restrooms, sprawling open areas and school-based, licensed vaccination clinics — that would support a mass effort.
Officials said 11 LAUSD sites could be ready within weeks to vaccinate people 65 and older, and dozens more ultimately could be tapped to inoculate their own staffs and members of surrounding communities when they are eligible.
Second doses
Ferrer was supportive of the projected efforts, but told supervisors the future is still uncertain until more product consistently rolls in.
“Patience is going to be required because we just don’t have enough doses,” she said.
And about two thirds of the allotment the county is getting must be devoted to provide the required second doses for people who got their initial shots around three weeks ago, Ferrer said.
Supervisors relayed stories from constituents confused about whether they’d ever be able to get a second dose. Many people vaccinated once at a local mega-clinic didn’t get a specific date to return for second dose, she said.
The glitch appeared to affect those who received inoculations on the first day of operation at the county’s five mass pod centers — but it has since been fixed, she said.
On-site staffers now uniformly make sure each person vaccinated leaves with a return date for a second dose, Ferrer maintained.
Equity/Accessibility
Many worried aloud of reaching communities where lack of trust could be a challenge.
Supervisor Holly Mitchell voiced concern about reports that that African-Amerian employees of the Department of Health Services were on the whole showing less acceptance to receive the vaccine.
Dr. Christina Ghaly said the reluctance was “understandable” in communities traditionally marginalized, where adequate access to healthcare has always been difficult.
Ghaly and Ferrer said such resistance should be met with understanding and better messaging going forward.
Officials said opening up the school sites could open trusted hubs, closer to home that would make it easier for people in vulnerable groups — including homebound seniors — to get vaccinated.
Ferrer also pointed to the need to tap independent pharmacists to help dole out vaccine in communities where brand-name pharmacies are sparse.
Leaders nudged the Public Health Department to incorporate free and low-cost transit options. ANd obile, pop-up teams — akin to mobile coronavirus testing teams — were urged to get vaccines to harder-to-reach residents.
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Though plagued by supply shortfalls, LA County maps COVID vaccine strategy - LA Daily News
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