Los Angeles County announced Tuesday, Oct. 8, that it is once again offering free COVID-19 vaccinations for residents regardless of insurance or immigration status.
The free booster is designed to target strains currently circulating and causing most infections. The booster is recommended for those age 6 months or older.
It is available at many county clinics and vaccination sites. L.A. County residents can visit ph.lacounty.gov/vaccines to find locations. Free vaccines are available to uninsured and underinsured adults at many health care providers and health centers through the state COVID-19 Bridge Access Program.
Both the COVID-19 and flu vaccines are available for free through the L.A. County Department of Public Health’s clinics and multi-service vaccination sites. And for those who can’t make it to a clinic, the county has made available mobile teams to ensure that the most vulnerable populations, including the elderly, disabled and homeless have access to the new vaccines.
Children who have Medi-CAL, are uninsured or underinsured, or American Indian or Alaska Native, can receive the newly updated COVID vaccine for free through the Vaccines for Children program. A list of these providers can also be found at bit.ly/VaccineForChildrenSites.
The Department of Public Health is urging residents to “stay up to date” on vaccines heading into fall and winter. Why? The number of COVID-19 cases have significantly increased in L.A. County during fall and winter months for the past three years, the department reported.
A big summer spike in COVID cases sent many more people to emergency rooms in California and nationwide than at any time since last year’s holiday season, according to state and federal data. As of early September, only 15.3% of Californians were up to date on their COVID boosters — meaning they got last fall’s shot. And it’s worse in Orange and Los Angeles counties (both at 14.3%), worse still in Riverside County (9.1%) and grim in San Bernardino County (7.9%).
“COVID-19 vaccines provide residents with a safe, effective, and easy way to protect against severe illness from the virus,” L.A. County’s Department of Public Health reported.
DPH reported that statistical data show vaccines can lessen the risk of post-COVID conditions. Also, for the 90-day period ending Sept. 10, 2024, unvaccinated residents were four times more likely to be hospitalized than vaccinated residents.
Age 65 and older
County residents over 65 years of age have had much higher rates of hospitalization and death due to COVID-19, compared to residents under age 65. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, the hospitalization rate for residents 65 years or older is six times higher than the hospitalization rate among residents under age 65, DPH reported.
Of the 36,020 cumulative COVID-19-associated deaths of residents since March 2020, 73% were among residents aged 65 and older. The cumulative death rate among residents 65-plus is 18 times higher than the cumulative death rate among residents under 65, the county DPH reported.
Ages 5 and up
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone over 5 years old receive one dose of the updated Moderna or Pfizer vaccine.
Children under 5 who have never been vaccinated against COVID-19 should receive two Moderna doses or three Pfizer doses of the newly updated vaccine.
Residents with insurance can obtain updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines through their healthcare provider or through many participating retail pharmacies.
Pregnant?
Those who are pregnant and become infected with COVID-19 are at increased risk of severe disease, preterm birth or stillbirth, the county DPH reported.
Pregnant people can protect their newborns and infants by getting vaccinated against the virus. Pregnant people pass along antibodies to their babies before birth so that they have protection against severe illness due to COVID-19 in their first few months of life.
Anyone who has questions, or needs assistance with appointments, or are homebound and need to be vaccinated, should contact the Public Health InfoLine, open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The number is 1-833-540-0473.
For more information, visit: ph.lacounty.gov/vaccines.
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SCNG Staff Writer Teri Sforza contributed to this article.
