Guidance Regarding COVID-19 Vaccination Directives

County of Los Angeles - Internal sent this bulletin at 08/25/2021 08:28 AM PDT

Sent on behalf of Lisa M. Garrett, Director of Personnel

To:    Employees of Health Services, Internal Services, Mental Health, Probation,
         Public Health, Executive Office of the Board, and Sheriff

From: Lisa M. Garrett
          Director of Personnel

GUIDANCE REGARDING COVID-19 VACCINATION DIRECTIVES

As mentioned in the August 16, 2021 communication to all employees from our Chief Executive Officer, Fesia A. Davenport, the Los Angeles County (County) Board of Supervisors issued a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination directive. All County employees must show proof of full vaccination by October 1, 2021.


While the October 1, 2021 verification deadline applies to all members of the County workforce, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued an order requiring that certain workers (paid and unpaid) in various health-care settings show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or get tested.


The CDPH order applies to employees, contractors, and volunteers in the Departments of Health Services, Internal Services, Mental Health, Probation, Public Health, and Sheriff, who work in acute health care and long-term care settings, high-risk congregate settings, and other health care settings and has a compliance date of August 23, 2021. Each department will provide specific information about which work locations are subject to this order.


The County is actively engaged in impact bargaining over the CDPH order. At this time, employees subject to COVID-19 testing because of the CDPH order will be able to test on County time and, if a mileage permittee, may be reimbursed for mileage. These employees will also be allowed reasonable paid time off to get vaccinated. Finally, the County is scheduling negotiation sessions with all labor unions in anticipation of the County’s vaccination compliance monitoring deadline of October 1, 2021.


We take our duty to provide and maintain a safe workplace for our employees very seriously. In accordance with that duty, we are issuing the following COVID-19 vaccination guidance to safeguard the health and safety of our employees and their families, our customers and visitors, and the community at large.

The County is expanding its contract with Fulgent, a leader in laboratory testing services and an existing vendor with the County, to maintain employee vaccination records and conduct required testing for applicable employees, contractors, and volunteers.

Starting this week, all employees working in one of the above-listed departments may begin submitting their vaccination records by uploading their vaccination documentation to the Fulgent database (see instructions below). Each department will provide specific information about its employees' reporting obligations under the CDPH order.

Employees in the departments listed above who work in settings subject to the CDPH order and the Executive Office of the Board must take the additional immediate steps depending on their vaccination status.

  • I am not vaccinated: If you do not provide proof of vaccination, you will be categorized as unvaccinated and are required to submit to regular testing through Fulgent. More information on testing will be made available to those employees in the coming days.
  • I am not vaccinated and plan to be vaccinated: Until you provide proof of vaccination, you will be categorized as unvaccinated and must submit to regular testing. Contact your medical provider or visit any of the multiple locations offering the vaccine, many of which require no appointment. Department of Health Services (DHS) employees may schedule vaccinations through the DHS Employee Health Services on-site vaccination clinics. The vaccinations are free of charge and as your employer, the County will provide you with reasonable paid time off to get vaccinated.
  • I am vaccinated: You may begin the process by uploading your vaccination certification documentation, as follows:
    • Department of Health Services employees: If you were vaccinated by DHS, your vaccination verification is complete. If you received your vaccination outside of DHS, you must submit a copy of your vaccination record to your local Employee Health Services.
    • Internal Services, Mental Health, Probation, Public Health, Executive Office of the Board, and Sheriff employees: Go to lac.fulgentgenetics.com to complete your vaccination verification, you will need:
      • Your employee or contractor number, and
      • A California Department of Public Health (CDPH) digital vaccine card QR code, (see “Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record” below for instructions), or
      • A digital photo of your hard copy vaccination card.
    • I cannot be vaccinated due to a medical or religious reason: If you cannot receive the vaccination due to a medical or a religious reason, you will be able to request a legal exemption. If the CDPH order applies to you, you must submit to regular testing through Fulgent. Additional details on how to submit your request will be provided in the coming days.

Available Resources:

The Department of Human Resources (DHR) and our County partners have established the following resources to assist all of us to continue working safely and productively.

  • Employee Town Halls. DHR, the Department of Public Health (DPH), Chief Executive Office, and County Counsel are partnering on two (2) upcoming Employee Town Halls to provide you with information about the COVID-19 vaccine and the mandatory vaccination directive and policy. The impacts of the County’s mandatory vaccination policy have yet to be negotiated; therefore, the focus of these meetings will be geared towards the efficacy of the vaccine and any operational issues that do not involve negotiable subject matters. More information will be provided closer to the Town Hall dates.
  • Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record. The California State Department of Public Health provides easy access to your vaccination record. Visit the CDPH portal to get started.
  • LAC DHR Employee Hotline and COVID-19 email. Both the LA County Employee hotline and COVID-19 email box are available to answer your employee questions. You can connect with us by calling (833) 990-2352, Monday-Friday from 7:00am-5:00pm or send your questions to COVID19@hr.lacounty.gov.
  • DPH COVID-19 Vaccine and Vaccination Records website. LA County COVID- 19Vaccine-LACountyDepartmentofPublicHealth provides reliable information on the pandemic, state and local health orders, and vaccinations.

As we have throughout the pandemic, all employees must follow Department of Public Health guidance for masking, hygiene, and physical distancing at work. For the latest guidance, please go to the DPH site for preventing the spread of COVID-19. Our highest priority is to continue to protect the health and safety of our employees and the public we serve.

Should you have any questions regarding uploading your vaccination documentation or need technical support using the Fulgent system, please contact lacsupport@fulgentgenetics.com.

If you have any questions regarding the mandatory vaccination directive or any other inquiries, please submit inquiries to your Departmental Human Resources Manager or COVID19@hr.lacounty.gov.