Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo and Via Care Health Center Come Together to Ensure Vaccine Reaches Communities Disproportionately Impacted by COVID-19

(LOS ANGELES, CA) –  Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo (AD-51, Los Angeles) and Via Care Community Health Center have come together to ensure that East L.A. residents 18 years and older have the opportunity to receive their first dose of the Moderna vaccine on Saturday, April 17, from 9 AM to 2 PM at 507 S Atlantic Blvd 90022 (Atlantic & Eagle – 260 bus line stop).

“Throughout this pandemic, my response has been driven first and foremost by equity, working to ensure that those communities hit hardest by the pandemic get the testing, protective equipment, and now, vaccines they need and deserve. As of February 2021, 19,000 California Latinos have died of COVID-19, far more than any other race or ethnicity group in our state. Latinos in East Los Angeles who are essential and frontline workers have been disproportionately impacted and we must continue to provide COVID-19 testing and the vaccines that will ultimately save lives. I am grateful to Via Care, a trusted and established community clinic for working with my office to make sure no one in our community is left behind,” said Assemblywoman Carrillo.

Assemblywoman Carrillo and Via Care have both consistently advocated on behalf of the residents of hotspot communities like East L.A., and have championed efforts to make COVID-19 vaccination sites accessible to households on the other side of the digital divide, who rely on public transportation, and whose primary language is not English.

“We want to thank Assemblywoman Carrillo for partnering with us and fighting for critical funding for programs that expand our capacity to deliver equity. Via Care Health Center has established a program that complements the efforts of federally-qualified health clinics, community- and faith-based organizations, home health care agencies, and mobile vaccinators. Together, we are building an infrastructure that is working to meet community needs and close the disparities this pandemic has laid bare,” said Deborah Villar, Executive Director of Via Care.

There are several websites and phone numbers dedicated to making COVID-19 vaccine appointments operated by the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, and State of California. Please call 833-540-0473, 833-422-4255, or 833-502-1245 to make yours.

Please note that while all Californians 16 and older may receive the Pfizer vaccine, only Californians 18 and older may receive the Moderna vaccine. The Janssen/Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine is not being administered at this time. 6 cases of severe blot clots have been reported out of the 6.8 million J&J vaccine doses administered in the U.S. and therefore, the decision to pause the use of J&J reflects the highest degree of caution. 

The increase in eligibility will also increase demand for the vaccine. At the same time, the vaccine supply is decreasing. California will receive approximately 20% fewer vaccine doses in the coming weeks. As millions of Californians remain unvaccinated, including all children under the age of 16, it is important for all Californians to continue wearing masks, keep physically distancing, regularly wash their hands, and limit their interactions with persons outside their households.

Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo was elected as the representative of the 51^st Assembly District in December of 2017. She is the Chair of Budget SubCommittee #4 on State Administration, and a member of the Appropriations, Budget, Health, Privacy and Consumer Protection, and Utilities and Energy Committees, as well as Chair of the Uplifting Girls and Women of Color in California Select Committee. Assemblywoman Carrillo represents the people of East Los Angeles, Northeast Los Angeles, and the neighborhoods of El Sereno, Echo Park, Lincoln Heights, Chinatown and parts of Silver Lake.