Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Ask LAist: How Do I Volunteer At A Vaccination Site?
LAFD employees discuss the set up of the vaccination site at Dodger Stadium. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
()
We’re answering your questions about COVID-19 vaccines here in Southern California.
LAist reader Andrew Mueth lives in Echo Park, pretty close to the big City of Los Angeles-run vaccination site at Dodger Stadium.
He’s been looking for ways to help his community more, and he noticed the long lines of cars. So, he wrote in and asked:
Support for LAist comes from
Is there a way for people without medical training to volunteer at vaccination sites? E.g. help with check-in, directing traffic, etc. The only info I can find is for people with medical backgrounds to actually administer the shots, but I feel like they might need help beyond that.
UPDATE, March 9, 2021: In March, the governor’s office announced a new, centralized way for both medical and “general support” volunteers to sign up. The website is MyTurnVolunteer.ca.gov. You can browse open shifts or – if there aren’t any – you can opt-in for notifications when more volunteer opportunities open up.
CITY OF LOS ANGELES
An organization called CORE (short for Community Organized Relief Effort) is partnering with the city and the fire department to run vaccination sites like the one at Dodger Stadium.
A CORE spokesperson told us you can visit their website to sign up for volunteer opportunities.
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
The County of Los Angeles has a whole page dedicated to staffing its megapods (short for points of distribution) at Pomona Fairplex, The Forum, CSU Northridge, the Los Angeles County Office of Education in Downey, and Six Flags Magic Mountain.
Support for LAist comes from
A county spokesperson told me that more than 5,000 people signed up to volunteer in a “non-clinical” role. Those positions include things like directing traffic, setting up and moving supplies around, checking in folks with appointments, and observing those who have been vaccinated.
As of the time we posted this article, all the volunteers slots were full, and the sites do not accept “walk-in” volunteers. But the county encourages potential volunteers to keep checking back, because as the supply of vaccines changes, the number of volunteers needed will change too.
ORANGE COUNTY
Orange County officials are directing potential volunteers to the nonprofit “OneOC.”
There, you can “pre-register” to volunteer at one of the points of distribution. Even if you’re not a medical professional, you can still help out with directing traffic, registration, and entering data.
Our @Disneyland & @SokaUniv Super PODs are staffed by @OCGovCA, #OC fire services, volunteer health care pros & local govt volunteers. To join this effort please scan the QR code below. Medically trained & general support volunteers needed. #ThisIsOurShot #OCCOVID19 #CovidVaccine pic.twitter.com/rG7V1XvEFF
— OC Health Care Agency (@ochealth) January 27, 2021
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
Support for LAist comes from
READ OUR ONGOING COVERAGE OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA:
- Your COVID-19 Vaccine Guide: Answering Questions About Safety, Eligibility, Access, And Much More
- How To Get The Second Dose Of Vaccine -- And Everything You Need To Know About It
- 'Filled With Fear': Disability Rights Advocates Say An Age-Based Vaccine Line Leaves Them Behind
- LA County Official Calls Anti-Vax Dodger Stadium Protest ‘Intentional Sabotage’
- LA Will Establish A 'Protest Zone' At Dodger Stadium To Avoid Future Incidents
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist