Category: Covid-19 Vaccine

The Los Angeles Police Department has placed on leave at least three employees who refused to either get vaccinated against COVID-19 or follow the citys requirement to get tested weekly.

LAPD Chief Michel Moore told police commissioners Tuesday that the three a pair of sworn officers and a civilian employee were a tiny fraction of the thousands of department employees who were asked last week to sign agreements to follow the citys vaccination mandate.

LAPD supervisors are personally approaching the employees who have not agreed yet to the citys mandate and asking their intentions.

Our desire would be to have all of (the remaining) notices served forthwith, Moore said.

L.A. city employees have until December to get fully vaccinated. Under plans hashed out with the citys unions, those employees with legitimate medical or religious reasons for not getting vaccinated are still required to get tested weekly. And they have to pay for the tests.

Moore said 2,239 LAPD employees had sought such exemptions, which are still subject to review and approval by city administrators. Some might have since chosen to get vaccinated.

On Tuesday, Moore and police commissioners indicated they were confident the mandate was working. The departments vaccination rate now stands at 78%, with that percentage of employees having received at least one shot.

LAPD has about 9,500 sworn officers and 2,500 civilian employees.

The surge in vaccinations among LAPD employees comes after the department appeared to lag for months behind other city agencies. In September, Police Commission President William Briggs harshly criticized officers who still hadnt been vaccinated, saying as employees in public-facing roles they endangered L.A. residents.

On Tuesday, he was far more upbeat.

We are taking strides not steps strides in the right direction, Briggs said.

Moore said the departments mobile vaccine clinic had gotten shots to thousands of employees so far at least 1,500 since the program was started over the summer in response to LAPDs lagging vaccination rate.

He said in just the last week, 429 employees have used the mobile clinics. That number included more than 170 officers and civilians getting vaccinated for the first time, and others who got their booster shots.

At least 10 LAPD employees have died from COVID-19 since March 2020.

We want to make sure we dont lose anyone (else to the virus), Moore said, and that they dont lose their career over something emotionally charged.

Of the three employees who refused, all have been assigned to home, Moore said. They will face administrative hearings to determine whether theyll keep their jobs.

LAPD didnt identify the employees. But one, Mike McMahon, a 14-year veteran of the department, said in an Instagram video on Saturday, Nov. 6, that he had his gun and badge taken away last week after he refused to sign the agreement.

I did just leave the captains office not too long ago, he said. I did refuse everything. I was subsequently relieved of duty, returned my gun, my badge, my police ID. All of my police powers have been suspended and I have been assigned to home, pending a Board of Rights, for which is essentially going to be an insubordination charge, which will ultimately result in termination from the department.

McMahon said he is part of a group of officers called Roll Call 4 Freedom, which opposes the mandates for L.A. city employees. McMahon appeared at a protest on Monday, Nov. 8, at Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles, speaking to a large group of vaccine opponents.

Union leaders said last week that officers who refuse to get vaccinated would not face insubordination charges. Rather, theyll be judged on whether theyre fit for duty, a less serious charge than insubordination. If theyre found unfit and fired, they could still return to LAPD if they later get vaccinated.

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3 LAPD employees face firing after refusing COVID-19 vaccines or testing, while thousands of others agree to plan - The Mercury News

Navy's shipyards, already struggling to maintain fleet, will lose workers over COVID-19 vaccine  Kitsap Sun

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Navy's shipyards, already struggling to maintain fleet, will lose workers over COVID-19 vaccine - Kitsap Sun

Mandatory vaccinations for most Florida health workers remain in place for now  The News-Press

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Mandatory vaccinations for most Florida health workers remain in place for now - The News-Press

NEW YORK (WKBW) New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a new COVID-19 vaccine incentive program for 5- to 11-year-olds Tuesday.

"Vaccinate, Educate, Graduate" gives the parents and guardians of 5- to 11-year-olds who receive their first COVID-19 vaccine dose by December 19 the ability to enter for a chance for their child to win a full scholarship to any two- or four-year SUNY or CUNY college or university. There will be 50 scholarships awarded over a five-week period with 10 announced each week beginning November 24.

- Gov. Hochul

The winners will receive the following:

Parents and guardians can enter their eligible children here or call 1-833-697-4829 to submit an entry over the phone. You can find the official rules here.

"New Yorkers looking to schedule vaccine appointments for 5- to 11-year-old children are encouraged to contact their child's pediatrician, family physician, county health departments, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), rural health centers, or pharmacies that may be administering the vaccine for this age group," a release says.

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NYS COVID-19 vaccine incentive program gives 5- to 11-year-olds chance to win SUNY or CUNY scholarship - WKBW-TV

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WANE) Since expanding vaccine eligibility to kids 5-11, a number of younger children in Indiana have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

According to the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH), 6,445 children age 5-11 received their first shot since it was approved last week. That is barely more than one percent of Hoosiers in that age category.

Despite the low number of younger children receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, vaccine rollout is at its busiest levels since this past spring. The state is administering more than 18,000 shots per day, with most being boosters. The 7-day average of shots administered peaked at just over 22,000 per day in late October.

Across the state, just under 3.3 million Hoosiers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. That is more than half of the eligible population, but still below national averages.

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IDOH: Less than 6,500 kids age 5-11 received first COVID-19 vaccine shot last week - WANE

WHITTIER (CBSLA) A Whittier woman faces charges of selling counterfeit COVID-19 vaccine cards she allegedly ordered online from a vendor in China.

Charlene Bohorquez, 31, was arrested last Friday after a package containing counterfeit COVID-19 vaccine cards from China was intercepted by U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations. The cards were being sent to Bohorquez at an address in an unincorporated area of Whittier, according to Los Angeles County sheriffs officials.

A search of the Whittier home turned up dozens of counterfeit COVID-19 vaccine cards and other evidence, authorities said. Detectives from the sheriffs Health Authority Law Enforcement Task Force questioned Bohorquez, who sheriffs officials say admitted she had ordered the cards online with the intention of selling them to people reluctant to get vaccinated. Bohoroquez also told detectives she had previously sold other counterfeit vaccine cards in the past, according to sheriffs officials.

Black market vaccine cards are a growing problem, particularly as a mandate requiring proof of vaccination to dine in at restaurants or enter the indoor areas of venues and other businesses has gone into effect in Los Angeles and Los Angeles County.

Bohorquez was arrested on suspicion of possessing and sales of a counterfeit or deceptive identification document. She was released with a citation to appear in court Tuesday.

Anyone with information about the case can contact the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Departments Major Crimes Bureau Sgt. Michael Mileski at (562) 946-7037.

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Charlene Bohorquez Of Whittier Arrested After Counterfeit COVID-19 Vaccine Cards From China Intercepted By Homeland Security - CBS Los Angeles

White House Covid-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients outlined how the Biden administration is ramping up the vaccination program for children after the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director endorsed a recommendation to vaccinate children ages 5-11 against Covid-19, something he called a landmark moment in our vaccination campaign.

This is an exciting and long awaited moment for parents and for our vaccination program, he continued.

Zients said that starting the week of Nov. 8, the vaccination program for children will be fully up and running with about 20,000 trusted and convenient locations available for parents to get their kids vaccinated including pediatricians, family doctors, pharmacies, community health centers and children's hospitals.

Some of those locations have already started scheduling vaccine appointments for children and others, including CVS and Walgreens, will open scheduling systems today.

Zients said that by the end of the week, parents and guardians can go to vaccines.gov to search for locations near them offering vaccinations for kids ages 5-11.

He also highlighted steps state and local health departments are taking to meet children and parents where they are in order to vaccinate children as soon as possible.

State and local health departments are planning to launch thousands of community based clinics, including at youth sporting events, fairs, zoos, and community centers. And across the country, schools will partner with vaccine providers to host vaccination clinics, with more than 6000 clinics at schools being planned before the winter holiday break, he said.

The administration will also be meeting later Wednesday with governors offices, state and local health departments, community health centers and pharmacies as they stand up their vaccination operations.

Zients also highlighted the latest vaccination numbers, saying more than 222 million Americans have had at least their first shot and 70% of adults are now fully vaccinated.He also said that today the country recorded over 1.3 million shots in arms, which is up almost 20% from last Wednesday's report.

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Children ages 5 to 11 can now get a Covid-19 vaccine in the US: Live updates - CNN

By Diane Lee, Public Information Officer, Garrett County Health Department

The Garrett County Health Department, along with Maryland Department of Health are currently making plans for the administration of COVID-19 vaccines to 5-11-year-olds.

Garrett County County Public Schools (GCPS) in collaboration with the Garrett County Health Department (GCHD) are offering free COVID-19 vaccination clinics for children 5 -11 years old on Monday, November 15, 2021, at Northern Middle School from 3:00 pm. to 6:00 p.m, and at Southern Middle School on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome. Students must be accompanied by their parents/guardians. For more information contact the Garrett County Health Department by calling 301-334-7777 or contact your childs school nurse.

We look forward to be able to supply this protection against COVID-19 to those who are 5-11 years old, said Dr. Jennifer Corder, Garrett and Allegany County Deputy Health Officer, and Board-Certified Pediatrician. Although we know that this age group is less likely to have an adverse outcome if they get the virus, COVID-19 has resulted in the deaths of more than 700 children in the USA since the start of the pandemic. If we can prevent anymore deaths to any age group, then thats what we should do!

At the end of September, Pfizer announced the results of a Phase 2/3 trial in which more than 2,000 children age 5-11 years old received a two-dose regimen of the COVID-19 vaccine equivalent to one third of an adult dose. The results of the trial showed:

As with any vaccine, there are safeguards in place to keep track of any possible health problems associated with the COVID-19 vaccine, said Dr. Corder. One of those safeguards, the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) accepts and analyzes reports of possible health issues also called adverse events after a vaccination is administered.

It is helpful to look at the history of flu-related pediatric deaths reported to the CDC in comparison to the more than 700 COVID-19 pediatric related deaths since the beginning of the pandemic, Dr. Corder said. From the 2004-2005 season through the 2019-2020 season, flu-related deaths in children reported during regular flu seasons have ranged from 37 to 199 deaths. (During the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, 358 pediatric flu-related deaths were reported to CDC from April 2009 to September 2010).

Any death, of any age person, from any disease is too many, Dr. Corder said, so its important that we get as many people as possible in all eligible age ranges vaccinated against COVID-19, and against the flu. We owe it to ourselves, to our families, to our friends, and even to strangers. Its one thing we can do to reduce the spread of these diseases and the deaths.

Once fully vaccinated, children will not have to be quarantined from school after an exposure to a case of COVID unless they have symptoms. This is an opportunity to keep these children in school and relieve many of the challenges facing children, families, and teachers due to children being quarantined.

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Maryland Prepares to Administer COVID-19 Vaccines to 5-11-Year-Olds - Communications Office - garrettcounty.org

This week at least 18 more Minnesota schools are expected to offer COVID-19 vaccines to their students.

The effort comes after federal officials last week approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for kids 5 to 11 years old an age group in which a lot of new cases of the virus have emerged as children headed back to school this fall.

The schools working with the Minnesota Department of Health to offer vaccinations this week include locations in Duluth, Minneapolis and Mankato. Other districts, including St. Paul Public Schools, will host vaccine clinics in partnership with local public health offices.

At an M Health Fairview vaccine clinic at Cityview Community School in north Minneapolis last week, Dr. Emily Borman-Shoap said offering shots in places kids would normally go like schools makes it easier for parents to get their kids immunized.

We know that some families may face more challenges accessing health care easily, or may not have a trusted provider, she said. So partnering with a school thats a trusted place it really helps our communities make sure that everybody has access to this protection on the first day we could get it.

Parents and families gather in the lobby of Cityview Community School in Minneapolis for a vaccine clinic for kids on Thursday.

Evan Frost | MPR News

Borman-Shoap said the vaccines are very safe and effective, after being studied on thousands of kids already.

My job as a pediatrician is to give you the best advice on how to keep your kids safe and healthy. So I'd never advise something that I thought would be harmful for them, she said.

Brett Percy was at Cityview Community School with his son Joseph, 10. Percy said his family is seeking some normalcy.

Were basically here to do our part to get over the pandemic, move on with life, he said.

"I just wanted not to get COVID, said Joseph.

Parents must consent to having their children immunized in school. In some cases, parents may be required to be present, too.

Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm speaks outside the Minnesota Children's Museum in St. Paul on Sunday. The museum was hosting a COVID-19 vaccination clinic for kids ages 5 to 11.

Andrew Krueger | MPR News

This week, state officials say they expect to have about 255,000 first vaccine doses for kids 5 to 11 at locations around the state enough to immunize about half the kids in that age group.

"This is not like the beginning with the adult vaccinations, where there just wasn't enough supply. It's just going to get easier and easier as more and more sites have the vaccine," State Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said Sunday outside a kids' COVID vaccine clinic taking place at the Minnesota Children's Museum in downtown St. Paul.

Speaking alongside Malcolm outside the children's museum, Gov. Tim Walz said community vaccination clinics like that one are another way to get the COVID vaccine to everyone who wants one.

"We want the barriers to be as low as possible. We want them to be as comfortable as possible. And we want them to be as convenient as possible," Walz said. "Parents work during the week. So being able to do it on the weekend ... in such an inviting space is critically important."

Parents can get their kids vaccinated at pharmacies and health care clinics as well.

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COVID-19 vaccine clinics at Minnesota schools continue this week, aim for equity - Minnesota Public Radio News

A COVID-19 vaccine clinic is being held at the Boys and Girls Club in Milford on Monday.

Event organizers said the clinic can accommodate anyone who is 12 or older and wants a first shot or a booster.

Moderna is available for anyone who is 18 or older and Pfizer is available for anyone 12 and older.

Walk ins are welcome. Anyone interested can also make an appointment here.

The clinic will run from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

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COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Being Held at Boys and Girls Club in Milford - NBC Connecticut