Support for LAist comes from
Become a sponsor
We Explain L.A.
Donate
Stay Connected

LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio (SCPR), a member-supported public media network. Hear our news on-air at our partner site:

KPCC Logo

Live Stream Schedule In Person

Keep up with LAist

Our top stories delivered weeknights
Donate

Share This
News

Long Beach Kicks Off Mass Vaccination Effort

By Lita Martinez
Published Jan 19, 2021 4:00 PM
6007754d3d7c92000901b5e5-eight.jpg
Drivers check-in for a COVID-19 vaccination as the Long Beach Convention Center becomes a mass vaccination site in Long Beach Monday, January 19, 2021. (Thomas R. Cordova/ via Long Beach Post)
LAist relies on your reader support.
Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all.

The Long Beach Convention Center parking lot — known locally as the "Elephant Lot" — is open once again. This time, it's serving as a mass COVID-19 vaccination site.

City workers expect to vaccinate about 1,800 people today. Long Beach is currently distributing the vaccine to essential health workers, first responders, and people age 65 and older. About half of those in the first vaccine phase have already received their second shots.

And starting today, grocery store employees and food workers — including restaurant cooks — can sign up for appointments.

Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia said of his city's efforts:

Support for LAist comes from
Become a sponsor
"I've been talking to all of the different mayors across the state, I talked to the governor's office, been communicating with the governor as well, directly. And right now, there is definitely a sense that we are getting something right in the city."

Garcia says appointments will open next week for Long Beach Unified School District teachers and staff. The city is also implementing a system to prevent doses from going to waste — so if someone doesn't show up, people further down the waiting list will be contacted to get the shot instead.

Long Beach, like Pasadena, operates its own health department. The rest of the county's residents are served by the L.A. County Department of Public Health.

MORE ON LONG BEACH

Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.