Good morning, LA. It’s February 12th.
Such as local coronavirus cases and deaths begin to decline the focus of many residents is shifting from testing to vaccination.
We have reported on the myriad stumbling blocks of vaccination rollout, from uneven distribution to confusion about the second dose to insufficient supplyNow another problem pops up: top-down communication glitches about who is eligible to take the photos.
My colleague Jackie Fortiér, which has been closely monitoring the pandemic and health, reports that despite being considered health workers – the first group to qualify for the vaccine – parents and carers of people with disabilities do not get access consistently until vaccination.
“The culture of the vaccination world right now is the Wild West,” said Andy Imparato, executive director of Disabled Rights California
The confusion is partly caused by the number of health departments in California, most of which make their own decisions about the use of vaccines. LA County alone has three; that of the county, another in Pasadena and a third in Long Beach.
Another contributing factor is poor education; Several families with whom Jackie spoke reported being turned away from vaccination centers by employees who did not think they were eligible, or accused them of bringing fake documentation.
And the unrest is exacerbated by the long, confusing and sometimes overlapping lists of who qualify as a health professional.
LA County Department of Health lists 38 jobs and employers who qualify someone as a health professional. California describes the healthcare sector as “large, diverse and open, both in the public and private sectors”, listing 22 types of workers, many of which are further divided into dozens of specific job titles.
And the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesn’t bother with job titles at all defining health professionals as “all paid and unpaid persons serving in healthcare settings who may be directly or indirectly exposed to patients or infectious material”, followed by a long list of qualifying factors.
In other words, it would be difficult for anyone to parse those lists and understand who can get the vaccine and who can’t. In the absence of clear instructions from national and local authorities, it may take a while before everyone is on the same page.
Keep reading to learn more about what’s happening in LA today, and stay safe out there.
What you need to know today
- State legislators have introduced legislation that would make California pay the bill for kids’ school lunches, instead of balancing their families for not being able to pay.
- Britney Spears’ father is no longer its sole curator, after a long fight in court.
- Being public defenders weigh the benefits and risks of working in the courts.
- As part of us Black in LA series, a LAist contributor writes about LA as a city of contradictions, which embraces diversity, but still grapples with – and even perpetuates – racism.
- The Sheriff’s Dept. built a helipad on land next to Sheriff Alex Villanueva’s house, the wrath of SoCalGas.
- Here’s what to do if you do not receive an email about your second dose, or if you are rejected when you show up for it.
- The karate sensei who trains one Cobra Kai‘s actors talks about martial arts in the San Fernando Valley, working with Netflix and real-life inter-dojo feuds.
- A pair of bald eagles in Big Bear welcomed their fourth egg after three losses in January.
- The pandemic made at home is cooking their game, and now they are change the way LA eats
- Celebrate the Year of the Ox this weekend, drink martinis with Nick and Nora, check out some options for poon choi and heart-shaped pizzas, and more
Weekend reads
There’s a lot going on in the world right now and it’s hard enough to keep up with our daily lives, let alone keep up with the news. But if you have some time this weekend, here’s what you may have missed:
Diane Edith Watson, 87, the first African American woman elected to the LAUSD board, and she served in state and local politics for decades.LA Sentinel
Community land trusts could be the future of affordable housing in LA (LAist
Activists are concerned that Latina / o immigrants who do not have the necessary technology, transportation, or experience navigating local bureaucracy face greater challenges in gaining access to the vaccine.San Fernando sun
A mobile vaccination clinic was rolled out for seniors living in South Los Angeles.LA Watts Times
I have a reserve $ 3 million? This desert city could be yours.LAist
This underground fighting club wins respect at LA’s best.LA Taco
Epiphany Church in Lincoln Heights was added to the National Register of Historic Places for its role in the Chicano movement of the 1960s.The Eastsider
A new little home community in North Hollywood hosts Angelenos who are homeless.LAist
97-year-old Ruth Zamora, who has lived her entire life in the city of San Fernando, was one of the first to be vaccinated in the area.San Fernando sun
Before you leave … you want to talk about it Friends
We are starting a new series of events! If, like many of us, you’ve sung nostalgic TV shows, come and join us in the TV Pilot Club.
In our first meeting, hosted by LAist Arts and Entertainment Reporter Mike Roe, we discuss the premiere episode of Friends – what holds up, and what is real, really not. Join us for “The One Where It Began” on Feb. 18 from 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM PST. for an interactive conversation.
Help us cover your community
- Do you have anything you’ve always wanted to know about Southern California and the people who call it home? Is there a problem you would like us to deal with? Ask us anything.
- Do you have a tip on news we need to dig deeper? Let us know.
The news cycle is fast. Some stories don’t come true. Others are added. Consider this first draft today and check it out LAist.com for updates on these stories and more. follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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