The Los Angeles Post

64% of Los Angeles County Residents Plan to Get Updated COVID-19 Vaccine, New Survey Finds

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A majority of Los Angeles County residents say they plan to get the updated COVID-19 vaccine, according to new survey results.  The new updated COVID-19 vaccine is a safe and effective tool for reducing the risks for severe illness, hospitalization, and cancellation of plans during the holiday season.

In a study led by the University of Southern California (USC) Pandemic Research Center, in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health), participants were asked whether they are planning to get the 2023-2024 updated COVID-19 vaccine. The survey was sent to members of the Pandemic Surveillance Cohort, a representative sample of Los Angeles County residents. Of the 1,046 responding, 64 percent said, “yes” indicating they plan to get the updated vaccine, and an additional 17 percent of the people who are still considering the vaccine responded, “not sure.”

Since the new updated COVID-19 vaccine was made available mid-September, more than 330,000 updated COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Los Angeles County. Among those 65 and older, an estimated 10 percent of people have already received the updated vaccine. And while this is positive news, knowing that individuals in this age group have a higher risk of severe illness and death from a COVID-19 infection, there are many more seniors who would benefit from the updated protection.

At least one dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months and older. The new vaccine is formulated to protect against Omicron XBB strains, which are the dominant strains circulating now. It also boosts immunity against the virus, which wanes over time.

To make an appointment to get the updated COVID-19 vaccine, and for drop-in locations throughout the county, visit myturn.ca.gov. Residents can search by ZIP code; results will include Public Health Clinics and pop-up vaccine events, as well as local pharmacies. The website also will note if sites offer free vaccines for people who are uninsured or underinsured. Most locations also offer the annual flu vaccine, which can be given at the same time.

This same USC survey also asked respondents about their intention to get the updated annual influenza vaccine:  69 percent of people in Los Angeles County plan to get the flu shot and about 9 percent of people are still deciding. Nationally, hospitalization rates for influenza during the 2022-2023 flu season were highest for people 65 and older, at 187 per 100,000 people, followed by children 0-4 years, at a rate of 81 per 100,000 people.

Over the past four weeks of data, Public Health is reporting a decline across indicators of COVID-19 transmission, including reported cases, wastewater concentrations of SARS-COV-2 virus, COVID-19 positive hospitalizations, and COVID-19 deaths. Historically, respiratory virus transmission is lower in October, before transmission begins to rise leading to a peak during winter months.

Now is a good time to prepare for the coming months and update your protections against COVID-19 and flu. Both the updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines are essential tools to help limit severe illness from respiratory viruses, especially for people at highest risk, including those with underlying health conditions and people over 65 years old. People over 65 should also speak to their provider about the newly approved respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine.

“Given how much sadness and grief so many families in Los Angeles County already experienced, I am grateful that many people recognize that vaccines remain a powerful tool for reducing risks associated with COVID-19,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.Ed., Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. “We have a good supply of COVID-19 and flu vaccines in Los Angeles County and there are options for everyone six months and older.  Anyone with questions about getting updated vaccines should call their health care provider or the Public Health Call Center.  I hope that if many people take advantage of the updated vaccines, LA County can avoid a big surge in respiratory virus cases this winter that strains our health care system and leads to more deaths.”

The Public Health Call Center remains open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to answer COVID-19-related questions, including how to get vaccinated, at 1-833-540-0473. In addition to helping to schedule a vaccine appointment, Public Health staff also can connect callers with resources, such as how to get vaccinated at home.

In Los Angeles County, based on data through Sept. 30, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Hospital Admission Level is Low at 4.6 new COVID-19 hospitalizations per 100,000 people, lower than 5.2 reported the week before.

Public Health reports COVID-19 data weekly. The following table shows case, wastewater, emergency department, hospitalization and death data in Los Angeles County over the past four weeks.

Metric

Date of Weekly Report

10/18/2023

10/11/2023

10/04/2023

9/27/2023

Daily average cases

217

242

303

382

SARS-CoV-2 wastewater concentration as a percentage of the Winter 2022-2023 peak concentration value

14%

27%

19%

30%

Daily average of the percent of Emergency Department (ED) encounters classified as coronavirus-related

2.6%

2.9%

3.3%

3.9%

Daily average number of COVID-positive hospitalizations

369

422

467

544

Daily average deaths

3.3

4.7

5.0

3.9

Percent of all deaths due to COVID-19

2.2%

3.3%

2.3%

3.3%

All daily averages are 7-day averages. Data for past weeks are subject to change in future reports. Time periods covered by each metric: cases = week ending each Saturday; wastewater = week ending each Saturday, with a one-week lag; ED data = week ending each Sunday; hospitalizations = week ending each Saturday; deaths = week ending each Monday, with a three-week lag; death percentage = week ending Monday, with a one-week lag.

Case data is presented by episode date, an approximation of the date the illness began, and death data is presented by date of death. This is a change from how case and death data were presented prior to July 26, 2023, which was by date of report. Daily average cases do not include Long Beach and Pasadena; daily average deaths include Long Beach and Pasadena.

Always check with trusted sources for the latest accurate information about novel coronavirus:

  • Los Angeles County Department of Public Health:

http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Spanish:

https://espanol.cdc.gov/enes/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Cases through 12:00pm 10/16/2023

 

Total Cases

Laboratory Confirmed Cases (includes LB and Pas through 6/27/23; excludes LB and Pas after 6/27/23)

3,811,975

Deaths (includes LB and Pas)

36,836

Cases by Age Group (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

– 0 to 4

115,452

– 5 to 11

284,814

– 12 to 17

279,685

– 18 to 29

767,780

– 30 to 49

1,152,621

– 50 to 64

628,605

– 65 to 79

276,192

–  over 80

99,224

–  Under Investigation

2,609

Cases by Gender (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

–  Female

1,864,832

–  Male

1,650,761

–  Other

1,890

–  Under Investigation

89,499

Cases by Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

–  American Indian/Alaska Native

6,844

–  Asian

269,899

–  Black

191,890

–  Hispanic/Latino

1,534,654

–  Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

18,024

–  White

503,828

–  Other

416,645

–  Under Investigation

665,198

Hospitalization (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

–  Hospitalized (Ever)

187,320

Deaths by Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

–  American Indian/Alaska Native

81

–  Asian

4,592

–  Black

3,280

–  Hispanic/Latino

16,979

–  Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

114

–  White

9,336

–  Other

466

–  Under Investigation

99