Vaccine Update

It’s hard to imagine that it has been over a year since we first took action to keep our community safe from the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been a challenging year for all of us, and I am working every day with my colleagues in the legislature on a range of pandemic related issues.

Late last year, the news of promising vaccines offered a distant hope of an eventual return to normality. And as the months passed, the vaccine has become a reality for more Californians. This is especially true after the announcement from President Biden on Thursday, March 11 that, as of May 1, every adult in the nation will be eligible for a vaccine.

Within that timeframe is still a matter of distribution timelines, including getting the supply to states and states getting supply to local bodies and facilities. That being said – we’re close. With ever-widening distribution, we are starting to turn a corner. It’s crucial that you have important information about the current state of the vaccination program.

In response to the many questions I hear from constituents every day regarding vaccines, I recently teamed up with Supervisor Kathryn Barger and leading health experts to bring you answers. I’d like to share what we learned, along with answers to the most common questions coming from our community.

Are the vaccines safe? Our panelist, Dr. Paul Simon, answered this question perfectly by stating, “With over 40 million vaccinated across the country, we are seeing just how safe these vaccines are with minimal side effects.”

Each of the vaccines underwent expedited but thorough medical trials and were determined safe by the FDA.

Why can’t I get the vaccine now? I know I am not alone in wishing everyone could get the vaccine as soon as possible. In fact, I can’t wait until it’s my turn! Currently, demand for vaccines far exceeds the supply. As a result, vaccine distribution has been structured to prioritize those at highest risk of serious complications or death, including the elderly and seniors, people with serious underlying health conditions, and disabilities and those at high risk of exposure to COVID-19, like healthcare workers, teachers, first responders and essential workers.

In order to be notified when it’s your turn to make a vaccination appointment, please register at the state’s My Turn website at myturn.ca.gov. This website will alert you when you are eligible for a vaccination.

How are the vaccines allocated? Every week, the federal government announces anticipated allocation figures for each state. Using the federal allocation as a starting point, the state considers recommendations from the leadership of local health jurisdictions and the state’s third-party administrator, Blue Shield of California, to make decisions about how best to allocate the vaccine given demand and supply.

In California, starting on March 8, in addition to adjusting allocations to targeted populations listed above, the state is directing 40% of vaccine doses to the hardest-hit areas, based on need and historic health problems in those areas.

What are the vaccine tiers and where are we in this program? Recently the state changed our tier system. Currently eligible Californians include frontline healthcare workers, long-term care facility workers, seniors age 65-plus, education workers returning to in-person teaching, emergency service workers, and food and agricultural workers.

On March 15, California expanded eligibility to people with certain severe health conditions that puts them at extreme risk from COVID. You can read about the current tiers and eligibility at the Dept. of Public Health website https://tinyurl.com/xpk4zyeh.

How does the county help people without Internet access or a car to access the vaccine? LA County recognizes that having a web-based portal is not ideal for many people, including seniors and those without Internet access. The good news is that there are alternatives, including the phone number 1-833-540-0473.

The County is working with community clinics to help their patients with transportation to vaccination appointments.

How much does it cost to get a vaccine? Nothing! The vaccines are free of charge to everyone. While you may be asked to provide your health insurance information when booking or when at your appointment, you should not be charged for any COVID-19 vaccine.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/czykmf4j.

What can I do once I’m vaccinated? The vaccine builds immunity to severe cases of COVID, similar to the flu shot, but you may still be able to catch and transmit COVID to others if you’re vaccinated.

Vaccinated or not, we must all continue to do our part – wear masks, maintain social distancing, wash our hands and continue all the same safety precautions. This is because, although the vaccine should prevent you from getting very sick from COVID, you still might be able to be an asymptomatic carrier. Recently the CDC released guidelines for people who have been vaccinated (visit https://tinyurl.com/3x742jb3).  

What can I do until I am vaccinated? I know the wait is hard, but we’re getting close. At our town hall we discussed how amazingly effective masks have been at preventing the disease, especially if wearing a high-quality mask or double-masking. We can point to our incredibly low flu numbers this year to see how effectively masks work.

Can I choose which vaccine I get? Health experts emphasize they don’t want you to delay your vaccine as all three vaccines are very effective and the sooner you get that vaccine the safer you will be. It is not advised that you wait for any one particular vaccine unless otherwise told to do so by your physician or a qualified medical expert.

What if I recently had or currently have COVID? People with a COVID-19 infection currently or who have recently had COVID are being asked to delay being vaccinated until the end of the typical quarantine period. Some health experts are recommending waiting a month. Please know that being vaccinated is a good idea even if you have had COVID, as it will give you an extra boost in immunity.

In closing, I’m continually amazed at the historic efforts of our healthcare professionals and the dedication of local leaders such as Supervisor Barger. While this has been an unimaginably challenging and devastating crisis we have had the opportunity to see unprecedented collaboration in an effort to save lives.

As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at (818) 558-3043 or Assemblymember.Friedman@assembly.ca.gov.