The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services’ vaccination clinics will continue administering the COVID-19 vaccine to healthcare workers on Monday, Jan. 11, a press release from the City said.
“We are proud of our vaccination rollout and it’s heartening that the majority of our health care workers have already been vaccinated,” said Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia. “Our new vaccine clinics will ensure that all Long Beach health care workers get vaccinated.”
The press release noted that as vaccines have become available, Long Beach has “aggressively” assigned or administered doses to those first in need. The process started with on-site vaccinations at hospitals and healthcare clinics and last week City Health Officer Dr. Anissa Davis also received the vaccine as did other frontline City health workers and Long Beach Fire Department firefighters and EMTs.
For healthcare workers who work in Long Beach, clinic appointments are now available. People should get in contact with their employers for more information the press release said.
Currently, proof of employment in Long Beach including a pay stub, ID or employer letter on an official letterhead, will be necessary for essential workers in order to receive their vaccines.
Vaccine allocation is not distributed according to residency, but according to each health jurisdiction’s workforce.
If a healthcare worker who resides in the city of Long Beach and works in another jurisdiction has not received any information from their employer by Tuesday, Jan. 19, they should call 562-570-INFO (4636), option 6, and leave a message or email COVID19Vaccine@longbeach.gov.
“The City of Long Beach is committed to making sure all healthcare workers, whether they live or work in Long Beach, get their opportunity to get vaccinated,” the press release said.
“It will take time to widely distribute the COVID-19 vaccine but we’re following CDC and State guidelines and doing everything we can to streamline administration,” Kelly Colopy, Director of the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services said in the press release. “We ask that everyone be patient, but I assure you everyone who needs a vaccine will get one.”
Currently, 7,796 vaccines have been provided to healthcare workers at hospitals, paramedics, EMTs and others offering emergency medical services, since the first round of vaccines was administered on Dec. 18 of last year.
All vaccines are free and have been issued directly by the federal government.
The Health Department is managing the vaccine distribution and administration process in accordance with guidance from the Center for Disease Control (DCD) and the State of California.
“Vaccines are being allocated to the City by employment and are being made available to individuals in two phases with sub-phases and tiered sub-prioritization until more vaccines become available,” the press release said.
Those with access to the vaccine appointment link but who do not qualify under the current phase as well as essential workers who don’t work in Long Beach will not be receiving a vaccine at this time.
On Tuesday, information on the next phase of vaccinations, including people working in the food and education sectors and residents 75 years and older will be provided.
Additional details about the City’s vaccine rollout plan are available on the City’s website. The City urges individuals to be aware of COVID-19 vaccination scams and report suspicious activity.
For the latest information on COVID-19, with details on all that the City of Long Beach is doing to keep our residents safe, visit longbeach.gov/COVID19 and follow @LongBeachCity on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
