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St. John’s Wellness opens vaccine site at LAUSD school 

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Officials stress importance of covid shots

Officials gathered at Clinton Elementary School in Compton last Friday to announce the on campus locations which will provide covid immunizations to children, aged five to 11. It’s hoped that locating the sites, staffed by St. John’s Well Child & Family Center, will make it easier for parents to get their children vaccinated.

“Like so many of you, I am relieved that we’re finally able to offer a very safe and effective vaccine to our children,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of the LA County Department of Public Health. “Having the ability to get our children vaccinated is huge.”

For information, visit vaccinateLACounty.com or well child.org or call (877) 612-8299.

Ferrer reiterated the value of getting vaccinated, especially before the start of the flu season. Last year, she said, there were 250 people dying from COVID-19 each day during the flu season.

“We can’t go back there,” she said. “The pathway right now is clear, with the vaccines providing the most powerful protection.”

A student was vaccinated during the outdoor news conference, which was held in supervisorial district 2. According to the office of Supervisor Holly Mitchell, the district has the lowest rate of vaccinations in the county, residents at 78.5 percent.

“Throughout her entire career, Supervisor Mitchell has made battling systemic inequities a cornerstone of her work,” Ferrer said, praising the supervisor and her staff for working with Public Health.

“We’re entering this change of season,” Mitchell said. “The holiday period when people are going to come together with their families. That’s why now is so important for our youngest residents of the county. And I’m hoping when the kids get vaccinated they’ll bring the adults in their families with them.”

Mitchell said she was influential at about 6 years old, in convincing her father to stop smoking because she had heard in school that smoking kills.

“I went home and rode him until he stopped,” Mitchell said. “So I know the influence young kids can have. They are hearing that they have the opportunity now to be vaccinated. I think they can influence some of the adults in their family. I know they can. So I hope this is an opportunity for this to be a true family affair.”

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