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More LA Essential Workers Could Soon Be Eligible For COVID-19 Vaccine, Health Officials Say
Los Angeles County health officials say they now expect to expand the local COVID-19 vaccine eligibility pool to more essential workers, within the next two to three weeks.
Here's who's next in line:
- Child care workers and teachers
- Grocery store employees
- Food and agricultural workers
- Emergency responders
- Members of law enforcement
According to data from the county health department, there are nearly 700,000 child care and education workers, along with more than half a million people in the food service industry in L.A. County.
County public health director Barbara Ferrer said it'll take some time to get through and vaccinate everyone in those groups:
"In these times of vaccine scarcity, we do need to ask that everyone be mindful of waiting for your turn, and helping to ensure that those who are most vulnerable in each eligible group have good access to the vaccine."
The city of Long Beach, which has its own health department, started offering shots to those frontline groups late last month, shortly after Gov. Gavin Newsom gave local officials the green light to expand their vaccine pools.
MORE INFO ON THE COUNTY'S ESSENTIAL WORKER DISTRIBUTION PLAN:
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