Frontline Workers, People Over 74 Recommended For Next Phase Of COVID-19 Vaccinations
With distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine now underway, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a recommended three-phase plan for the early stages of vaccine allocation, with frontline essential workers and those aged 75 or older slated for vaccination in the next phase.
Phase 1 of the plan is broken up into Phase 1A, 1B and 1C, which were stratified based on a balance of “prevention of morbidity and mortality” and “preservation of societal functioning”, according to a report by Dr. Kathleen Dooling of the CDC.
Phase 1A, which is already underway in Los Angeles County, includes health care personnel and long-term care facility residents.
In his first COVID-19 briefing as mayor of Santa Clarita, Bill Miranda reiterated a clear message Friday to the community: Be safe this holiday season.
“We want to wish you all, our citizens of Santa Clarita, a very safe and enjoyable holiday season. Do your best,” he said in a city broadcast. “I know we all want to socialize; I know we all want to get with family and friends. Do it virtually if you can. Be safe. It’s very important. We’re running out of ICU beds be safe.”
His message comes a day after the intensive care unit availability in the Southern California region reached 0% and as Los Angeles County continues to report thousands of new diagnoses and hospitalizations daily.
COVID-19 Vaccine Administered To Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital ICU Nurse
The first dose of the authorized COVID-19 vaccine at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital was administered to a healthcare worker Thursday.
At a small press briefing at Henry Mayo in Valencia Thursday, the coronavirus vaccine was administered to Kathy Brady, a nurse with the hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU) who has been caring for COVID-19 patients in Santa Clarita since March.
“I’m really pleased that our clinical leaders on the front lines are ready to be vaccinated, and really serve as a great example for the community. This is a very important part of the war that they are fighting everyday, and they want to see it come to an end,” said Henry Mayo CEO Roger E. Seaver. “Physicians, nurses, technicals, support staff, everybody’s lining up for the vaccine and we look forward to the results.