MEDIA ADVISORY: VIRTUAL PRESS CONFERENCE - Los Angeles County Health Services to Vaccinate 6,000 Frontline Health Workers by Christmas / Mass Vaccination Effort to Begin Friday, December 18

WHO:

Dr. Christina Ghaly, Director, LA County Health Services

The Hon. Hilda L. Solis, Chair, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and Supervisor to the First District

Dr. Paul Giboney, Associate Chief Medical Officer, LA County Health Services

Dr. Brad Spellberg, Chief Medical Officer, LAC+USC Medical Center

Dr. Tamara Chambers, ICU Physician, LAC+USC Medical Center

WHAT:

As California continues with its vaccination of frontline healthcare workers, LA County Health Services’ embarks on a mass COVID-19 vaccination effort that will result in 6,000 vaccinations by Christmas. The effort begins Friday, Dec. 18 at three LA County Health Services hospitals: LAC+USC Medical Center, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

A virtual press conference will be held following the initial vaccinations. The County’s first frontline healthcare workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccination will also be available to answer reporters’ questions. Additionally, Dr. Ghaly will provide an update on the County’s Health Services ICU numbers and surge plans.

WHEN:

Friday, Dec. 18, 2020

10:00 a.m. PT - Virtual press conference on Cisco Webex

WHERE:

Join on Cisco Webex: https://bit.ly/2KAFmr2

Password: DHSmedia123

Audio Conference Phone: +1-213-306-3065

Access Code: 126 045 3418

VISUALS:

B-roll and photos of healthcare workers’ vaccinations, as well as of the freezers and vaccines, will be distributed shortly after the injections on Friday, Dec. 18. The b-roll and photos will be from LAC+USC Medical Center. Credit should be given to County of Los Angeles.

FACTS:

LA County Health Services plans to administer the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to 6,000 of the highest risk health care workers by Christmas, with the first vaccine clinics taking place across the health system on Friday, Dec. 18. LA County Health Services expects another shipment in coming days and plans to vaccinate a total of 10,000 workers before the end of this year, Since the first allocation is limited, LA County Health Services is following CDC and state guidance in identifying and vaccinating those workforce members who are in the highest risk categories and working in our highest intensity areas, such as the ICU and Emergency Department. The mass vaccination effort will occur while LA County Health Services manages the largest surge of COVID-19 patients seen in this pandemic. All of its hospitals have been highly impacted by the surge as they primarily serve low-income communities that have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

ABOUT:

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) is the second largest municipal health system in the nation. Through its integrated system of 27 health centers and four hospitals - and expanded network of community partner clinics – DHS annually provides direct care for over 600,000 unique patients, employs over 23,000 staff, and has an annual budget of over $6 billion. For additional information regarding DHS, please visit www.dhs.lacounty.gov.