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 believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
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.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
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.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
