COVID Vaccination Information
As vaccine rollout has been expanded to include wider segments of the population, including residents over age 65+, we've heard repeatedly from community members that they've been struggling to make appointments or access the vaccine. We're offering this brief guide (accurate as of Feb. 1, 2021) to help make the process easier and more accessible. If you have tips or additional information, or if you have questions, please reach out to us, either at raceandpolicingmb@gmail.com or on Instagram, @justiceformb.
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Covid remains an urgent racial justice issue—on Jan. 30, the LA Times published a story detailing the racial disparities that have resulted in Latinx deaths in LA County soaring by 1000% since November. We remain committed to combatting Covid spread and increasing equitable access to vaccination as cornerstones of our racial justice work.
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Read below for information on who's eligible, how to book an appointment, our advice, and FAQs.
Who's Eligible?
"In LA County, we are actively vaccinating the following groups:
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Healthcare workers (HCWs) at high and moderate risk of exposure to the COVID-19 virus through their work in any role in health care or long-term care settings. High and moderate risk means the HCW has direct or indirect contact with patients or infectious materials (Phase 1A)
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Long-term care facility residents (Phase 1A)
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Persons age 65 and over (Phase 1B Tier 1)
Note: Low risk healthcare workers such as administrative support staff without routine in-person patient contact will be offered vaccination in Phase 1B Tier 2. Veterinary Medical Personnel will be offered vaccination in Phase 1B.
Vaccine supply is still extremely limited. We urge patience as we work urgently with our federal and state partners to expand capacity and supply in the weeks ahead.
You can make an appointment to be vaccinated through this website if you are in are in one of the groups listed above. DO NOT REGISTER FOR AN APPOINTMENT IF YOU ARE NOT IN AN ELIGIBLE GROUP. Doing so will take an appointment slot away from those at highest risk and you will be turned away without proper documentation of your eligibility."
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From: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/vaccine/hcwsignup/,
accessed February 1, 2021
Required Documentation
Healthcare Workers
"You must bring one of the sets of documentation listed below. If you do not have documentation, you will be asked to return with it.
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Healthcare worker or student badge with photo
OR -
Professional license AND a photo ID
OR -
Payment stub from healthcare provider with your name AND a photo ID
Second doses only
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White vaccine record card or electronic vaccine record AND a photo ID"
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From: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/vaccine/hcwsignup/, accessed February 1, 2021
Long-Term Care Facility Residents
"1. White vaccine record or electronic vaccine record card AND a photo ID
OR
2. Second dose referral letter AND a photo ID​."
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From: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/vaccine/hcwsignup/, accessed February 1, 2021
Persons Age 65 and Older
"You will need to show proof that you are an LA County resident and that you are age 65 or older.
Examples include:
Proof of age:
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Driving license
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California ID card or REAL ID card (from the DMV)
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MediCare card
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Social Security card
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Military ID
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Passport
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Medical document/records from medical provider, clinic, or doctor
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Membership card for a seniors only organization
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Consular ID (Matricula Consular)
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Any official document that includes name and date of birth
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Proof that you live in LA County (must show your name and address):
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Driver’s license
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California ID card or REAL ID card (from the DMV)
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Library card
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Post- marked letter
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Utility bill
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Vehicle registration
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Vehicle insurance
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Voter registration confirmation
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Rent receipt or lease or letter from landlord
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School or employment document
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Court document
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Tax, Bank or insurance document
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Post Office change of address confirmation
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Letter or document from a Faith-based organization, shelter, non-profit institution with the name/address of issuing organization
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Membership card – Union, YMCA, store club card, fitness center, community or neighborhood association, apartment building association"
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From: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/vaccine/hcwsignup/, accessed February 1, 2021
Note
We recognize that this documentation is impossible to provide for some community members, particularly for people experiencing homelessness. In reproducing it we are not expressing our support for the County's policies, in this or any other aspect of the prioritization or rollout of the vaccine. We are only sharing the information so that community members can understand whether they are eligible to be vaccinated and if so, how to do so. If you are in an eligible group but do not have access to the proper documentation, we highly recommend reaching out to an organization like PPE Now LA, which works to improve access to healthcare.
Book an Appointment
If you have confirmed that you are eligible and have access to the required documentation, CLICK HERE or go to http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/vaccine/hcwsignup/pods/ to book your appointment. Here's a step-by-step guide to the process:
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Answer these questions carefully. You will be required to provide documentation! Also, not every vaccination site is serving every eligible group—you MUST answer this information accurately to be directed to the correct vaccination sites.
Step 2: Enter & Select Location
Type your zip code into the search bar and hit enter. Be careful in selecting a vaccination site—if you need both doses, MAKE SURE TO SELECT A SITE THAT SAYS 1ST & 2ND DOSE.
Step 3: Book an Appointment
If you see a screen that looks like this, with multiple blue circles and "appointments available" at the bottom of the screen, congratulations—you've done it! Select a time and finish scheduling your appointment. You will then be asked to provide insurance information, documentation, etc. You may, however, see a screen that looks like this:
If so, there are—at that moment—no available appointments. If this is the case, DO NOT GET DISCOURAGED. We will cover this again below, but the County is only releasing a few appointments at a time, because appointments are based on vaccine shipments and availability. As soon as the County confirms that it will receive more doses, it opens more appointments. This happens multiple times a day—so if you see this screen, JUST KEEP CHECKING until you can find an available appointment.
Tips & Advice
Don't give up if there are no available appointments when you check. Just keep logging in.
DO NOT GET DISCOURAGED. The County is only releasing a few appointments at a time, because appointments are based on vaccine shipments and availability. As soon as the County confirms that it will receive more doses, it opens more appointments. This happens multiple times a day—so if you see this screen, JUST KEEP CHECKING until you can find an available appointment.
Don't book multiple appointments.
Booking multiple appointments will not make you any more likely to get vaccinated—if you book an appointment, they are certain they will have a dose available for you. But booking multiple appointments can mean that others can't get their appointments, which means it'll take longer for all of us to be protected, others will be put at higher risk, and valuable vaccine doses will be dumped in the trash. DO NOT book multiple appointments.
Make sure you enter your information at the beginning correctly so that you're only looking at vaccination sites where you are eligible.
If you don't enter your information correctly, you might not be able to get vaccinated when you show up for your appointment. Firstly, you're required to show documentation. Secondly, not all vaccination sites are serving all categories of patients—you want to make sure your appointment is at a vaccination site you are eligible to visit.
Look for the words "first and second dose."
Unless you've already gotten your first dose, you need two (for the vaccines currently approved for use in the US). Some vaccination sites are ONLY booking appointments for second doses due to limited supply. If you need both, look for the words "first and second dose" when you reach Step 3 of booking your appointment.
After your first dose, look for an email from the County with information about your second dose appointment.
That email will contain the necessary information for you to come in for your next appointment. Do not go back through the system described above unless directed to do so by that email. The County is currently scheduling first and second dose appointments at the same time—there is no need to go back through the online portal unless directed to do so.
Do NOT attempt to cut in line. If you aren't eligible yet, WAIT.
This should be obvious, but this is NOT a guide to how to cheat the system or how to get the vaccine early. The vaccine rollout is an imperfect process and we certainly wish the state and county had prioritized unhoused people, disabled people, etc. more than they did in their tiered system. Nonetheless, to cheat the system is to deny protection to the most vulnerable members of our community—it is selfish and inexcusable. Do NOT call your doctor offering to make a sizable donation. Do NOT try to find a way around the system. Wait your turn and, in the meantime, help those who are eligible to get their appointments so that the process moves more quickly and we can all be protected.
Help your vulnerable neighbors and community members—if you see that new appointments have been released, let them know.
This process takes patience and tenacity, and it may take several tries to schedule your appointment. If you know someone vulnerable or in an eligible category who's struggling to get an appointment and you notice that new appointments have been released, let them know—we're all in this together.
Frequently Asked Questions
We know that this process can be confusing or overwhelming, and you might have questions about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine(s). See the New York Times article below for some answers, and if your question still isn't addressed here, send us an email or message us on Instagram.