       Whose turn is it now? Healthcare workers, people living in nursing homes and people 65 years and older are eligible for the vaccine now. Visit www.vaccinatelacounty.com to learn more about when you or loved ones can get it.
How can I get the vaccine? If you are 65 or older, your Health Services clinic will call you to schedule an appointment. If you are on the list above, you also can make an appointment at a Public Health site by visiting here or calling 833-540-0473. There is very limited supply so you may not get an appointment right away. There are two doses, so you will be scheduled to come back for the second shot.
How do I find out when it’s my turn? We will contact you by phone, email or text to schedule an appointment. Please make sure you sign up for MyWellness Patient Portal.
 Is the vaccine safe? Yes. The vaccine was studied with tens of thousands of adults from different backgrounds, including older adults and people of color. In the studies, the COVID-19 vaccine prevented people from getting sick from COVID-19.
Will I have side effects? You may have some side effects, like a sore arm, low fever, headache and chills. These are normal signs that your body is building protection. Don’t worry -- they should go away within a few days.
How does the vaccine work? There are two vaccines, Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, and they prevent about 95% of cases of COVID disease. COVID vaccines help our bodies make antibodies, or proteins that help fight off infections and viruses. These antibodies recognize the virus that causes COVID-19. So if you get the virus, your body will know how to fight it and will keep you from getting sick.
How is this different from the history of scientists using vulnerable populations for medical experiments? The racist medical experiments which are part of our country’s history were wrong. This sad truth of our past is something that we must never forget. At the same time, black, Latinx and Indigenous Americans are getting sick and dying from COVID-19 at much higher rates than white people. We encourage all people, especially those of color, to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
 Where can I get more information about COVID-19 and the vaccine? Please visit our website here. You also can find out what’s true and what’s false by reading these 10 MythBusters. We promise to keep you updated on the vaccine.
What should I do to stay safe? Continue to cover your nose and mouth with a mask, stay six feet apart from others and don’t gather. Even after you get a vaccine, you will need to follow the same rules. That will help stop the spread of the virus.
Thank you for being part of our Health Services family. Your health and safety are our priority.
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