Health officials ramp up efforts to reach the unvaccinated in LA's underserved communities

3-day vaccination clinic opens in Wilmington

LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Calif. - With COVID-19 cases on the rise across Los Angeles County, there is a renewed effort to get residents vaccinated in underserved communities.

Starting Tuesday, Providence health care workers will host a 3-day clinic at the Wilmington Wellness and Activity Center on Hawaiian Avenue. In that particular Los Angeles neighborhood, nearly half the population is of Hispanic or Latino origin.

"I just want to encourage folks to come on out and get themselves vaccinated if you haven’t done so yet," said Rafael Garcia with Providence Community Health. "We just really want to encourage folks who are teetering on the fence whether to get vaccinated or not. With the Delta variant and the sudden spike, most of the hospitalizations are from folks who have not gotten vaccinated."

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LA County health officials are working to reach the 4 million eligible residents who have yet to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Many of the unvaccinated are Black and Latino residents who have the lowest vaccination rates in the county.

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Local health officials say around 40% of Black and Latino Angelenos have been fully vaccinated, compared to the estimated 70% of white and Asian residents who have received the vaccine.

In an effort to reach more neighborhoods, the county will use its public libraries to offer the Pfizer vaccine to residents ages 12 and older. Those between the ages of 12 and 17 are required to have a parent or guardian with them.

The Pfizer vaccine will also be offered at the Woodcrest Library starting Tuesday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. No appointment is required and residents do not have to have health insurance.

Other upcoming COVID-19 vaccine clinics are listed below: