L.A. County Public Health Partners with Homeboy Industries to Encourage COVID-19 Vaccinations New PSAs talking about the importance of getting vaccinated, overcoming hesitancy, and the impact the virus has had on the community.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) and Homeboy Industries partnered together to promote the COVID-19 vaccinations in new public service announcements (PSAs) showcasing Father Greg Boyle and employees speaking about the importance of getting vaccinated, overcoming hesitancy and understanding the impact the virus has had on the community.

Public Health, Homeboy Industries and other partner agencies will continue to promote awareness and accurate information about the importance and safety of the COVID-19 vaccine. The PSAs can be viewed below:

The County continues to collaborate with community-based organizations, trusted community leaders, to engage residents in hard-hit communities, providing them with important COVID-19 health information and connecting them to vaccination resources and community support.

“Equity remains at the core of our vaccination efforts, which is why we are proud to partner with Homeboy Industries to ensure that justice-impacted residents understand the importance of getting immunized against COVID-19," shared Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda L. Solis, Supervisor to the First District. "Because of prior negative interactions that some of our justice involved residents might have experienced with the medical system or engaging with government, a campaign around COVID-19’s impact on our community and overcoming any hesitancy is critical. Many thanks to Father Greg Boyle and his team for their continued leadership.”

"2020 was difficult. There was a lot of grieving that each of us did, not just over the loss of life but loss of how things operated, so you had to lean into the grief and find your way to joy,” said Fr. Greg Boyle, Homeboy Industries. “Thankfully, the vaccines are a gift, and they give us the best protection from COVID-19. Homeboy Industries is proud to partner with the Department of Public Health on encouraging those not yet vaccinated to do so, so we can all return to the fullness of our community.”

“Homeboy Industries has been a leader in our community for more than 32 years, providing critical services and opportunities to those often left behind, and we cannot thank them enough for their commitment to the vaccination effort,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “The vaccinations are our best opportunity to move forward and having leaders like Father Greg and Homeboy Industries remind everyone how important it is to get vaccinated will help us save lives."

Throughout the pandemic, Latino/Latinx and Black/African American residents and those who live in high poverty areas have seen disproportionately high numbers of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. Unfortunately, men, and men of color in particular, have significantly higher risk of dying from COVID-19 while males in Los Angeles County, specifically Black and Latino males, have lower vaccination rates. The County takes serious its mission to address disproportionate impacts on health.

Last week, Homeboy Industries teamed up with the Office of Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda L. Solis and several other community partners to bring COVID-19 vaccinations to highly-impacted community members. Homeboy Industries has facilitated access to over 575 COVID-19 vaccinations to date.

Over 15 community-based justice organizations participated in the event leading to close to 150 volunteers supporting the event. The vaccine clinic also featured community resources like free care kits, diapers and wipes, HIV testing, prepared meals, and food boxes among other items. This led to the distribution of nine tons of food boxes, four pallets of diapers and wipes, and 1,000 prepared meals thanks to Homeboy Industries Feed HOPE food insecurity initiative.

To find a vaccination site near you, to make an appointment at vaccination sites, and much more, visit: www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) and www.VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish).

Homeboy Industries is the largest gang rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world. For over 30 years, Homeboy Industries stood as a beacon of hope in Los Angeles to provide training and support to formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated men and women, allowing them to redirect their lives and become contributing members of our community.

The Department of Public Health is committed to promoting health equity and ensuring optimal health and well-being for all 10 million residents of Los Angeles County. Through a variety of programs, community partnerships and services, Public Health oversees environmental health, disease control, and community and family health. Nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health comprises nearly 4,500 employees and has an annual budget of $1.2 billion. To learn more about Los Angeles County Public Health, please visit www.publichealth .lacounty.gov, and follow LA County Public Health on social media at twitter.com/lacounty.gov, and follow LA County Public Health on social media at twitter.com/lapublichealth, facebook.com/lapublichealth, instagram.com/lapublichealth and youtube.com/lapublichealth.

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