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.
WATCH: Gov. Newsom, LA Mayor Garcetti Visit Hospital Giving COVID-19 Vaccinations
Gov. Gavin Newsom visited L.A. County's Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, which administered some of the first doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to health care workers. Five health care workers were vaccinated there today. Newsom was also joined by L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti and L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis.
You can read highlights below or watch the full press conference above.
VACCINATIONS IN LA COUNTY
Support for LAist comes from
There were 33,150 vaccine doses delivered Monday — there were also 33,278 new COVID-19 cases reported today.
"Today we received as many doses in the entire state of California as there were new cases in the state of California," Newsom said.
The state expects between 2.1 and 2.16 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to be delivered by the end of the year, according to Newsom. The state has a total of 2.4 million health care workers that need to be vaccinated.
The average over the past week was 31,000 new cases, with an average of 159 deaths per day. The positivity rate went from 3.5% six weeks ago to 10.6% now.
Newsom said that he plans to get the vaccine himself, but won't be cutting in line.
"I have no problem taking the vaccine — I look forward to taking this vaccine, I'm confident of its safety and its efficacy, but I'm not going to get in the way of any of the critical workers ... that are more deserving," Newsom said.
Newsom said that there is light at the end of the tunnel — but that we're still in the tunnel.
Support for LAist comes from
Vaccines were distributed to four sites across the state on Monday, according to Newsom, with 24 more sites getting the vaccine Tuesday and another five on Wednesday.
Newsom said that the state's new vaccination awareness campaign "is about vaccinating all Californians, not just some Californians, not just connected Californians," Newsom said.
Newsom praised Garcetti and Solis for their cooperation with the state during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as Garcetti's private advice to Newsom.
Garcetti spoke about having a nurse in his own family, and what this moment with vaccinations beginning means. He introduced nurse Kim Taylor, who received her first dose of the vaccine today.
"We are marching through the horror of this moment — there is no way around that," Garcetti said. "But today we're also marching through the hope of this moment."
"Hope is here. Relief is here. And the vaccine is here," Solis said. "We can now see an end point to this pandemic."
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our nonprofit public service journalism: Donate now.
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
-
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs. -
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
Best of LAist