L.A. opens up COVID-19 vaccines to everyone age 16 and older

L.A. opens up COVID-19 vaccine appointments for everyone age 16 and up

April 10, 2021 Updated 9:43 PM PT

Los Angeles has opened COVID-19 vaccine appointments to people age 16 and older.

On the city’s website for COVID-19 vaccine registration, operated by Carbon Health, there is now an option to book an appointment for people 16 and older at city-run vaccination sites.

People who are seeking shots at city-run vaccination sites must provide valid identification and be a resident of Los Angeles County. City-run sites are open from Tuesday through Saturday.

“We are excited to open vaccination appointments for Angelenos 16 and older,” Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a statement. “We continue to receive a limited supply of vaccines, and when we receive greater supply in the weeks ahead, the city will be ready to administer even more vaccines quickly and safely.”

Only one vaccine — manufactured by Pfizer — has been authorized for use by those age 16 and 17.

The updated website offers appointments for everyone 16 and older as early as Tuesday — two days earlier than Thursday, when California formally opens vaccinations to all residents in this age range. Currently, the statewide criteria say that only people 50 and older, those with underlying health conditions, and workers in certain specified essential job sectors are eligible for the vaccine.

But many local jurisdictions have moved faster than the state in allowing everyone age 16 and above to get the vaccine.

The city of Long Beach, the UC Davis Health system in the Sacramento area, and the counties of Riverside, San Bernardino, Kern, Fresno, Contra Costa, Butte, Shasta and Nevada have opened up vaccines to those ages 16 and older; Yuba and Sutter counties have made shots available to all adults.

Orange County and San Francisco are allowing people 16 and older living in hard-hit ZIP Codes to get vaccinated.

You got vaccinated — great! Now what?

Once you reach full immunity, your risk of getting a moderate to severe case of COVID-19 is greatly reduced, and you’ll want to go places and see people. Here are some guidelines and resources.

Now that I'm vaccinated ...

UPDATED April 28, 2021 | 11:42 AM

Do I still have to wear a mask?

Only in public or around unvaccinated people, according to the CDC. If you’re around other fully vaccinated people in a private setting, go ahead and take your masks off. The CDC has relaxed its guidance for wearing masks outdoors.

Can I visit unvaccinated people?

Yes, you can visit one other household with unvaccinated people, indoors and without masks even, as long as they and anyone they live with are at low risk of developing a severe case of COVID-19. Avoid mixing with more than one household at a time.

Can I travel?

Be sure to check and follow the rules in place for wherever you’re headed, but in general, yes. And you don’t have to quarantine when you return home.

Can I attend large gatherings?

The CDC recommends that you do not. In California, stadiums and other large venues that are opening are doing so with limited capacity and physical distancing and other measures in place.

Suggested reading for the vaccinated:

Did you lose your vaccine card? Did you post it on Instagram? Did you laminate it? Not to worry.
Test your knowledge of post-vaccine dos and don’ts.
Here are a whole bunch of things you can do in Southern California.

For those who aren’t yet:

It’s really easy to get a shot now.
If you know someone who is vaccine-hesitant, these video conversations might be useful.
Need more information? Here’s the CDC website. And The Times’ complete vaccine coverage.

SHOW MORE SHOW LESS

Anyone working or living in Alameda County age 16 and older can now book appointments through the state’s MyTurn registration system, even at the mass vaccination site at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, according to San Francisco Supervisor Matt Haney.

Haney tweeted that all counties should just make all Californians age 16 and up eligible for vaccine appointments now.

“It seems clear that everyone ages 16+ in the Bay Area counties (or all of California) should just be all made eligible for vaccine appointments right now,” Haney wrote. “The inconsistencies and inequities are reaching peak ridiculousness in light of how close we are to opening it up to all.”

All COVID-19 vaccines are free regardless of immigration or health insurance status.