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Vaccine, Testing, & Medications

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VACCINE INFORMATION:

*COVID Testing information at the bottom of this page* *La información de las pruebas COVID se encuentra al final de esta página.*

*The COVID-19 Vaccine is free to all eligible persons. Immigration status and insurance are not required. Medical information is protected by law.

*La vacuna COVID-19 es gratuita para todas las personas elegibles. No se requiere estado migratorio ni seguro medico. La información médica está protegida por ley. 

The California Department of Public Health issues a Joint Statement on Authorization of Updated Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech Boosters: 

On September 3, 2022, The California Health & Human Services Agency Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly, and Director of the California Department of Public Health and State Public Health Officer Dr. Tomás J. Aragón, issued a joint statement on the emergency use authorization in the United States of updated COVID-19 boosters the Moderna bivalent booster for individuals 18 years of age and older and the Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent booster for individuals 12 years of age and older. This statement follows the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup's and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) support of the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ recommendation.

  • The state is prepared to begin offering the updated boosters to Californians 12 years and older as supplies arrive over the next few days.
  • These new boosters are designed to address both the original and more recent variants of COVID-19 virus (Bivalent).
  • To be eligible, individuals must have completed their primary series dose(s) at least two months prior to receiving an updated booster.
  • Individuals must receive primary vaccination before receiving one of these new booster shots. 
  • Individuals are eligible to receive the updated booster regardless of previous booster doses received.
  • The new Moderna bivalent booster is available only to people age 18 and older. 
  • The updated Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent boosters will now replace the existing monovalent booster vaccines for individuals 12 years of age and older.  
  • The prior monovalent booster for age 12 and up no longer is authorized for use.
  • Either of the new boosters may be administered at the same time as other vaccines, including the annual influenza (flu) vaccine. 
  • Children ages 5-11 can still boost their immunity with the monovalent boosters.  

The full CDPH new release is available at the following link: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/NR22-136.aspx

Medicine to Treat & Prevent COVID-19

Visit the County of Los Angeles Public Health page to learn more about COVID-19 medicine available now at, http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/medication/

How to get the medicines: There are several different ways to get medicines to treat COVID-19:

  • Your doctor can write a prescription that you can fill at over 300 pharmacies in LA County. If you need intravenous treatment, your doctor can refer you to an appropriate location.
  • You can use a "Test to Treat" program which is available at many pharmacies and clinics. Call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489)
  • You can use the Public Health Tele-Health Service available seven days a week from 8:00 am - 8:30 pm at 1-833-540-0473.

The Test to Treat and Tele-health services provide easy access to COVID-19 testing, evaluation, and if you are eligible, oral COVID-19 treatment. 

Types of medicines: There are 2 types of medicine available to prevent or treat COVID-19:

  • Antivirals that prevent viruses from "multiplying" in the body
  • Monoclonal antibodies that bind to the virus and help the body to get rid of it.

IHSS Authorizes Payment for Vaccination Appointments/IHSS autoriza el pago de citas de vacunacion

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has authorized IHSS providers to receive up to four hours of compensation for accompanying an IHSS client/recipient to receive their vaccination. The IHSS providers may claim up to two hours per vaccine, four hours total. If the IHSS recipient already has authorized IHSS hours for Accompaniment to Medical Appointments, the IHSS provider can simply claim vaccination appointment hours on their timesheet. If the IHSS recipient does not already have Accompaniment to Medical Appointment hours, or needs additional hours for vaccination purposes, a Claim Form can be completed. The form must be turned in to the recipient’s IHSS county office to be processed. For more information please visit https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/ihss.

El Departamento de Servicios Sociales de California (CDSS, por sus siglas en inglés) ha autorizado a los proveedores de IHSS que reciban hasta cuatro horas de compensación por acompañar a un cliente/beneficiario de IHSS a recibir su vacuna. Los proveedores de IHSS pueden reclamar hasta dos horas por vacuna, cuatro horas en total. Si el beneficiario de IHSS ya tiene horas autorizadas de IHSS para el Acompañamiento a Citas Médicas, el proveedor de IHSS puede simplemente reclamar las horas de las citas de vacunación en su hoja de tiempo. Si el beneficiario de IHSS aún no tiene horas asignadas de Acompañamiento a Citas Médicas, o necesita horas adicionales para propósitos de vacunación, se puede completar un Formulario de Reclamación. El formulario debe entregarse en la Oficina de IHSS del Condado del beneficiario para que sea procesado. Para más información, puede visitar https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/ihss.

Vaccine Available for Anyone 6 months of age and Older:

The Los Angeles County Public Health office has announced that COVID-19 vaccines are now available for everyone 6 months of age and older. For complete information, please visit their website here.

Children older than 6 months can now get vaccinatedCOVID-19 boosters now available to kids 5-11

Read the 11/03/21 letter from the Department of Developmental Services relating to children being vaccinated.

Frequently Asked Questions          

 What to Expect at Your Appointment

Vaccine Safety: How Does it Work?

After You Get the Vaccine

 When You Are Fully Vaccinated

  

You can also view videos answering all your questions. View videos here (English & Spanish). 

The County of LA Dept. of Public Health now has a Vaccine Interactive Dashboard. Want data on how many people are being vaccinated in LA County and in your neighborhood? Check out their Dashboard here.

Tests for people who are blind or have low vision: 

On June 23, 2022, the Biden-Harris Administration launched a new initiative to expand the availability of testing options that are more accessible for people who are blind or have low vision. This initiative complements the Administration's efforts to expand production of more accessible tests and work with private sector partners on the development of new accessible tests. 

To get a test, order online or by calling 1(800) 232-0233.

For more details on these tests, visit the Administration for Community Living ACL page.

 

Pfizer Vaccine Booster Dose Available to Eligible LA County Residents 

Eligible Los Angeles County residents can now begin receiving their booster doses at any of the hundreds of sites offering the Pfizer vaccine.  

Los Angeles County residents eligible for a booster dose of Pfizer include the following groups of people who received the second of the two-dose Pfizer vaccine series at least 6 months ago and are either:  

  • People aged 65 years or older 
  • Residents of long-term care facilities 
  • Are 50-64 and have an underlying medical condition or are at increased risk due to social inequity (including that of communities of color) 
  • People aged 18 to 64 years with underlying medical conditions 
  • People aged 18 to 64 years with high institutional or occupational risk, including healthcare workers, first responders, teachers and day care staff, grocery workers, and workers in homeless shelters or prisons, among others 

Residents who received Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines will need to wait until the FDA reviews the data and determines the need for and safety of boosters for these vaccines.  

Residents wanting a booster will need to bring proof they received two previous Pfizer doses, which for most people will be in the form of the white vaccination card, or a photo of the white card, or a digital record of your two doses. At many sites, residents may be asked to sign an attestation form indicating they meet the criteria to receive the Pfizer booster. 

Those not yet vaccinated can make an appointment to get vaccinated by going to MyTurn. Eligible residents who completed their two-dose Pfizer vaccine series at least six months ago can also make an appointment for their boosters by using the MyTurn system or by making an appointment at a pharmacy or clinic that offers Pfizer vaccinations.  

If you need a ride to get your vaccination, you can reach out to the Public Health call center at 1-833-540-0473 and you will be connected to free transportation. 

Information about the COVID-19 vaccines, vaccination site map and many other resources can be out found at www.vaccinatelacounty.com or www.vacunatelosangeles.com  

Are you or Someone you Know Homebound?

If you or a loved one have been unable to attend an existing community vaccination site, you can request in-home vaccionations. All Los Angeles County residents (excluding Pasadena and Long Beach) are eligible for in-home vaccinations by one of Public Health's partnering vaccination providers if the homebound criteria is met.  View the Los Angeles County In-Home COVID-19 Vaccination Public Request Form for full details and to see if you meet the criteria.

Aidan Gets His Vaccine:

Aiden-vaccine

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aidan receives services from ELARC and he and his family are happy to share that he has gotten the COVID Vaccine. Congrats to Aidan! And congrats and to all those served by ELARC in the steps you're taking to ensure safety for you and those around you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

COVID-19 Vaccination Sites Open at Metro Stations:

Where: 3501 Santa Anita Ave, El Monte, CA 91731 

When: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 12pm – 7pm

Schedule an appointment at vaccine.fulgentgenetics.com. Walk ups are also welcome.  English flyer with details.  

Folleto en español con detalles

Where: Union Station Patsaouras Bus Plaza (1 Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90012) 

When: Starting June 8, Mondays through Saturdays from 8am – 8pm 

Harbor Regional Center, in collaboration with Anchor/Oxford Healthcare, is Holding Vaccine Clinics at their Torrance office:

  • For regional center clients ages 18 and over
  • Household and family members of clients who are 18 years and over
  • Service Providers/ direct care staff
  • Friends and Family
  • Members of the Community
  • For Everyone!

Starting May 4th, these will take place Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm, at the HRC Torrance Office. Register here for these clinics.

At the HRC clinics you will park your car and walk in, for your scheduled appointment. They are able to accommodate special behavioral and mobility needs. Ask their parking lot volunteers to direct you to the designated parking area, and request a nurse to come to your car to provide the vaccination if you have this need.

Center for Family Health & Education (CFFHAE):

CFFHAE has multiple locations serving Coronavirus Vaccinations in Southern California. Currently available in Panorama City, Los Angeles, Northridge, El Monte, Inglewood, Cerritos, Lakewood, and Long Beach. To make appointments, please visit their website here.

COVID-19 vaccine appointments are available now at County-run sites, including the following locations:  

  • The Forum
  • Office of Education (Downey)
  • Cal State University, Northridge
  • Pomona Fairplex
  • Balboa
  • Obregon Park
  • Palmdale Oasis Recreation Center
  • College of the Canyons

Book appointments here.

Tzu Chi Medical Clinic in Alhambra

Tzu Chi Health Center – Alhambra is a medical, dental and acupuncture clinic serving Alhambra and surrounding communities including Los Angeles, Monterey Park, Rosemead, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South San Gabriel, Temple City, Montebello, El Monte, South El Monte, and Arcadia. They currently have a Vaccine Hotline for appointments. You may call (626) 866-9887 to see if they have vaccines available. 

Vaccines Through Kaiser Permanente

All Kaiser members can schedule an appointment via KP.org or call 1-833-KP4CARE.  You do not have to be a Kaiser member to obtain the COVID 19 vaccine at a Kaiser clinic. Non-Kaiser Permanente members will be assigned a temporary MRN that they can use to make an appointment. There is a dedicated web portal accessible through Kaiser's website to assist non-members with making appointments.

Additional Ways to Make Appointments:

In addition to booking vaccine appointments at public vaccination sites through the state’s MyTurn scheduling system or by calling (833) 422-4255,  you may wish to contact your primary health care provider to inquire if they will have vaccination supply and are able to book an appointment at their office for a vaccination.  Many local pharmacies are able to provide the vaccine but please note that during March teachers/educators and child care providers are prioritized for vaccination at pharmacies by federal government direction.  Links to the pharmacies are listed below:

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: 

Uber and Lyft Providing Free Rides to Vaccination Sites:

Uber and Lyft are offering free rides to get people to their COVID-19 vaccination appointments. All app users for Uber will get four free rides of up to $25 each to eligible vaccine sites through July 4, the company announced. The four rides should cover two trips to get two doses, three weeks apart.

Here’s how to get the free rides from Uber:

  • After booking an appointment at a vaccine site if needed, users can launch their Uber app and tap on the “vaccine” button.
  • They’ll see an option to “Get your free ride” and then indicate whether they’re headed to the vaccine site or going back home after receiving their jab.
  • Next, users will be prompted to enter their ZIP code, and then choose their desired vaccine location.
  • Once they select the location, the ride of up to $25 will be booked.

Lyft is providing up to $15 worth of rides. To learn how you can get these rides, visit their website.

Moderna and Johnson & Johnson Vaccines NOT for 5 to 17 year olds: 

If you would like your child to be vaccinated and they are between the ages of 5 and 17, please ensure that you make an appointment at a site that provides the Pfizer vaccine. Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are not currently approved for administration to anyone under 18. If you make an appointment at a site that only administers the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you will be turned away.

For a full list of sites across the county offering Pfizer vaccines, please view the list here.

Vaccine Questions Answered: DDS FAQs Updated!

The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) has updated their Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document.   The updated FAQ document on vaccines includes information in Plain Language.  It Is available now in English and will be in languages other than English by the week of March 22nd.  This is a comprehensive replacement of all prior FAQs. It includes:

  • Vaccine Supply, Safety, and How Vaccines Work
  • Who is Eligible for the Vaccine and How to Get It
  • Consent Privacy and other Legal Questions

Find the updated FAQ document on the DDS Vaccine and Testing page at https://www.dds.ca.gov/corona-virus-information-and-resources/vaccine-testing/

Resources to Preparing for Vaccination Shots/Recursos para prepararse para las vacunas:

The State Council on Developmental Disabilities and Disability Voices United has made available some tips to prepare people who will receive the COVID vaccine and those who administer it. The target audience for one document is for family advocates and the other document is for those staffing the vaccine sites.

El Consejo Estatal de Discapacidades del Desarrollo y Disability Voices United ha puesto a disposición algunos consejos para preparar a las personas que recibirán la vacuna COVID y a quienes la administrarán. El público objetivo de un documento es para defensores de la familia y el otro documento es para quienes trabajan en los sitios de vacunación.

Access Service to Drive-thru Vaccination Sites:

Beginning February 22, 2021, Access riders can book next-day trips to COVID-19 vaccination appointments at approved drive-thru vaccination sites. Please call (626) 532-1616, select your preferred language, and then select option 2 to make a reservation. Reservations can be made daily between the hours of 8:00am and 5:00pm.

Make sure you have an appointment to be vaccinated before booking a drive-thru trip. Visit VaccinateLACounty.com for more information about when and where you can be vaccinated. Access riders without computer access can also call (833) 540-0473 to make a vaccination appointment. Drive-thru vaccination trips should only be booked to an approved location and are limited to pick-up locations within 20 miles of the vaccination site. Regular fare applies for vaccination trips. View their website for more information.

Questions about the Vaccine?

It’s normal to be cautious when something new comes along. Wanting to know more is a good thing — it means you want to be informed. And getting informed about COVID-19 vaccines is an important step to help us stop this pandemic. Visit the AD Council website where you can find the answers to most of your questions!

Find this information in:

View a five-minute video about the vaccines produced by the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, by regional center clients who share information:

 

Vea este video de cinco minutos sobre las vacunas producidas por el Consejo Estatal de Discapacidades del Desarrollo, por clientes del centro regional que comparten información:

The FDA's Fact Sheets on all Vaccines

Visit the FDA's website to obtain all the COVID-19 Vaccine News, Updates, and Fact Sheets. Additionally, you can find information on

  • Emergency Use Authorizations — Vaccines
  • Vaccine Basics
  • Podcasts & Publications
  • Vaccine Advisory Committee Meetings
  • Vaccine Guidance for Industry

COVID-19 VACCINE: After you are fully vaccinated (after your 2nd dose). Now What?

There are new public health recommendations for fully vaccinated people. They are based on guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They will be updated over time as we learn more about the impact of vaccination on the spread of COVID-19. Find answers to questions like, "What does it mean to be fully vaccinated?" or "What am I allowed to do now that I'm fully vaccinated?" on this flyer here.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information in Plain Language: 

COVID-19 vaccine information in plain language such as what to know about the COVID-19 vaccine, who will get the vaccine first, where to get the vaccine, and much more. View the document here. You may also  visit the Vaccine and Testing web-page from the Department of Developmental Services.

Self Attestation Forms:

On March 15, people with certain significant, high-risk medical conditions or disabilities, including developmental disabilities, became eligible for vaccines statewide.

To protect confidentiality, verification documentation of the diagnosis or type of disability was not required, but instead anyone meeting the eligibility requirements was asked to sign a self-attestation that they meet the criteria for high-risk medical conditions or disabilities.  ELARC sent personalized letters to all individuals served by ELARC over age 16.  These personalized letters could have been used as proof of eligibility to receive a vaccine.  Though a letter was not required, ELARC suggested individuals bring the letter to the vaccination site.

Now that the COVID19 Vaccine is available to all over the age of 16, the Self Attestation Form is not needed. However, if you feel more comfortable completing one and taking it with you to your appointment, you are free to do so. 

*Please note that ELARC does not have any direct influence over your access and ability to secure an appointment for the vaccine. You are encouraged to be persistent in your efforts to get an appointment, and keep checking the websites above. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health will continue to open up additional appointments in the days and weeks to come.*

*All links have been tested and are working. If any links do not work, make sure you are using Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. Please note that some sites are no longer supported by Internet Explorer. Write to info@elarc.org if you experience problems.*

TESTING INFORMATION:

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health

The "How to Get a COVID Test" document has been updated (7/21/2023)

Other pertinent information and resources can be found on the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health website at http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/

Finding a Test Site: 

LA County is Providing FREE COVID-19 Testing: Whether you have symptoms or not, you can get free testing for COVID-19 throughout LA. Visit their website for complete details, and learn more about their Pop-Up locations. Please note that those who have symptoms have priority. 

Additional Testing Sites:

City of Alhambra and surrounding cities

FREE Test Kits:

Starting January 15, 2022, every home in the United States will be eligible to order four test-kits at no cost. You can order your free COVID-19 tests by clicking this link COVIDtests.gov - Free at-home COVID-19 tests. If you prefer to go to your pharmacy or a store that sells COVID-19 tests, you may find free tests or your health insurance may give you back up to $12 as a reimbursement.     

Having tests available at home is important for keeping you safe. If you think you might have COVID-19, testing yourself at home is an good step to take, in addition to calling your doctor. Keeping tests at home just in case you need to use one is a good way to keep you and your loved ones healthy. Order your free at-home tests today.

Resources relating to testing including Frequently Asked Questions: