With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Not All LA County Employees Are Fully Vaccinated Yet. That’s 2 Months Past Deadline
Healthcare workers get vaccinated for COVID-19 at the Martin Luther King Jr Community Hospital.
(
Chava Sanchez
/
LAist
)
The deadline for L.A. County employees to show proof of full vaccination came and went two months ago. Close to 20% have yet to comply.
More than 800 county workers have already been hit with a five-day unpaid suspension. After that, County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl says they get another month to get vaccinated.
“If you don't comply within that 30 days, you get a statement of intent from us, that we will discharge you. And that is what we intend to do,” Kuehl said.
In the meantime, those employees have to undergo regular testing that is paid for by the county.
Sponsored message
The latest numbers indicate nearly 12,000 county employees, or about 12%, say they have not received the vaccine. Another 7,000, or 7% of employees, have yet to report their status.
As many as 4,500 are seeking a medical or religious exemption.
SEIU 721, which is the county's largest union, responded to the requirement in September. The organization said “the practical effective date” for disciplinary action would be at least late November, though the county slated it for Oct. 1.
L.A. County is facing multiple lawsuits over the mandate — including one from hundreds of firefighters who contend it violates their "autonomous privacy" rights.
At LAist, we focus on what matters to our community: clear, fair, and transparent reporting that helps you make decisions with confidence and keeps powerful institutions accountable.
Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
