How long will it take before the general public can get vaccinated in Los Angeles County?
COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna are already in the market, and are available for healthcare providers, but when can you get vaccinated if you are not a healthcare provider, and live in Los Angeles County? This is a question that most of us want to know desperately.
We have done some research, and have made it very easy for you to find basic answers to your most urgent questions about the COVID-19 vaccination.
First you need to find out which Phase and which Tier you will fall into, and when you have that information, it is easy to find out when COVID-19 vaccine will be available in your sector.
Should I get my kids vaccinated?
Let me tell you already that the vaccines, by both companies, are not recommended for children under 16, and at this time you should not even worry about getting your kids vaccinated.
When will the vaccine be available to me?
We have found a vaccine calculator, in which you can plug in where you live, your age group, and potential health factors to find out which phase and tier you will fall into, and how many people might be in line before it is your turn to get vaccinated.
Phase 1A - Tier 1 - 3
Healthcare workers and residents of skilled nursing facilities
It is estimated that everyone in Phase 1A will have been offered at least one dose of vaccine by late January or early February 2021, per County of Los Angeles Public Health.
Phase 1B - Tier 1
Individuals 75 years and older, and individuals who work in Education, Childcare, Emergency services, and Food and agriculture.
It is estimated that vaccination will begin for those in Phase 1B in early February and you should be offered at least one dose of vaccine by late March 2021, per County of Los Angeles Public Health.
1B - Tier 2
Individuals 65-74 years of age, and individuals who are at risk of exposure at work in Transportation and logistics, Industrial, commercial, residential, and sheltering facilities and services, and Critical manufacturing. Also individuals who are incarcerated and are homeless.
It is estimated that vaccination will begin for those in Phase 1B in early February and you should be offered at least one dose of vaccine by late March 2021, per County of Los Angeles Public Health.
Phase 1C
Individuals 50-64 years old, people 16-49 years of age who have an underlying health condition or disability which increases their risk of severe COVID-19; and those at risk of exposure at work in water and wastewater, defense, energy, chemical and hazardous materials, communications and IT, financial services, government operations, and community-based essential functions.
It is estimated that vaccination will begin for those in Phase 1C in March 2021, and that you should be offered at least one dose of vaccine by late April or early May 2021, per County of Los Angeles Public Health.
Phase 2
Individuals between the ages of 16-49 years old without high-risk medical conditions.
It is estimated that vaccination will begin for those in Phase 2 by mid-May or early June 2021, per County of Los Angeles Public Health. (Happy Birthday to me! I maybe getting my vaccine on my birthday.)
Please note that per County of Los Angeles Public Health, these timings are estimates and may change as vaccine supply and the state prioritization requirements change.
Latest News about Vaccination Efforts in California
On January 11, 2021, Governor Newsom announced that the state of California would be stepping up its coronavirus vaccination efforts this week, opening mass vaccination sites at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Petco Park in San Diego and Cal Expo in Sacramento.
Newsom said the state's goal is to vaccinate 1 million more people by the weekend. The state wants to expand the types of health care professionals who can give vaccinations to include dentists, pharmacy technicians and National Guard teams.
If you need to find more information about side effects and safety of the vaccines, you can find all these information on CDC's official website. Click here to find information about Moderna's vaccine. Click here to find more information about Pfizer.
Disclaimer: We are not medical doctors or professionals, nor do we have any medical or scientific training, education, or experience. You should always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified health care provider before making any decisions relating to your health.