Public Health Advises: It’s Not Too Late to Get the Updated COVID-19, Flu Vaccines for Maximum Protection This Winter

Heading into December, some residents may be questioning whether they missed the window of opportunity to get effective protection against this winter’s respiratory viruses before holiday festivities begin. The best time to get vaccinated is at least two weeks before gathering, but there is still a benefit for getting vaccines at any time.

Spread of respiratory viruses tends to increase this time of year, when people are gathering, traveling and spending more time indoors. Local data shows that circulation of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), is beginning to increase in Los Angeles County and getting vaccinated now can still provide protection against severe illness throughout this winter’s respiratory virus season.

Levels of flu and RSV are measured by looking at the percentage of lab tests that are positive at sentinel surveillance laboratories. This week for flu, 6.8 percent of specimens were positive, compared to 3 percent two weeks prior. For RSV, 13 percent of specimens tested positive compared to 9 percent two weeks earlier.

Since Nov. 1, in Los Angeles County, the reported daily average of COVID-19 cases has increased from 198 to 249. The number of reported COVID-19 cases helps to illustrate larger COVID-19 trends; however, the total is an undercount due to the large number of home test results that are not reported, and the data also does not catch incidences when people are infected but do not test. If all three viruses continue to increase in Los Angeles County, there is potential for a “tripledemic” that could strain local health care resources.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) monitors wastewater levels of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 infection, for a more comprehensive measure of COVID-19 in the community. On Nov. 1, wastewater concentrations were at 11 percent of the peak concentration observed last winter. For the most recent reported week, the concentration is 24 percent of the 2022-23 winter peak, more than doubling over the past four weeks. Current levels are not a cause for increased concern for rapid spread, yet the trend indicates that people should be thinking about increased protection for this winter.

The updated COVID-19 vaccine is designed to target COVID strains circulating now, and research shows that it is effective at reducing the chance of severe illness and long COVID. The vaccine is also expected to provide similar protection against the emerging strain BA.2.86, which the World Health Organization (WHO) designated as a variant of interest earlier this week.

As of the most recently completed variant sequencing in Los Angeles County, for specimens collected during the two-week period ending Oct. 28, BA.2.86 accounted for 1 percent of specimens, making it the first time it has met the 1 percent threshold locally since it was identified by the WHO as a new strain in late July. Nowcast models from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predict that as of Nov. 25, BA.2.86 accounts for 5 percent of COVID-19 circulating in Region 9, which includes California. EG.5, a descendant of Omicron XBB, accounts for the largest proportion of cases in Los Angeles County at 26 percent followed by HV.1, also a descendant of Omicron XBB, accounting for 23 percent of specimens.

Updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines are recommended for everyone 6 months and older, regardless of prior vaccination or infection status. This year’s vaccines target the strains of COVID-19 and flu that are circulating now. Besides providing protection from severe illness for yourself and others, vaccination also can help minimize disruptions and cancellations due to illness this holiday season. There should be no out-of-pocket costs for vaccines regardless of insurance or immigration status. More information, including links to schedule, how to find pop-up vaccination events and answers to questions about vaccines, can be found at ph.lacounty.gov/vaccines.

This year, increased protection against RSV is also available for people over 60 and very young children. The CDC estimates that each year RSV causes between 58,000–80,000 hospitalizations among children younger than 5 years old and 6,000–10,000 deaths among adults 65 years and older.

People ages 60 and older should speak with a provider to see if the new RSV vaccine is a good option for them. All infants under the age of 6 months and some older children with underlying health conditions should get nirsevimab (Beyfortus) to protect against RSV infection this season. If infants can't get the RSV immunization from their provider and they have Medi-Cal, they can visit a Public Health Center for the injection. Additionally, people who are 32 through 36 weeks pregnant during September through January should get one dose of maternal RSV vaccine to protect their babies.

Los Angeles County residents who have questions about respiratory symptoms, how to find a Public Health Center, where to get vaccination or how to get tested, can access the Public Health Call Center at 1-833-540-0473, open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Public Health staff can answer questions related to COVID-19, flu or RSV and can help schedule vaccination appointments, including in-home vaccinations for people who are homebound.

In Los Angeles County, based on data through Nov. 18, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Hospital Admission Level is Low at 4.3 new COVID-19 hospitalizations per 100,000 people.

Public Health reports COVID-19 data weekly. The following table shows case, wastewater, emergency department, hospitalization and death data in Los Angeles County over the past four weeks.

Metric	Date of Weekly Report
Metric	11/29/2023	11/22/2023	11/15/2023	11/8/2023
Daily average cases	249	275	250	211
SARS-CoV-2 wastewater concentration as a percentage of the Winter 2022-2023 peak concentration value	24%	13%	12%	15%
Daily average of the percent of Emergency Department (ED) encounters classified as coronavirus-related	3.3%	3.6%	3.0%	2.8%
Daily average number of COVID-positive hospitalizations	396	357	304	288
Daily average deaths	1.6	2.7	3.4	3.6
Percent of all deaths due to COVID-19	2.0%	1.1%	0.9%	1.9%
All daily averages are 7-day averages. Data for past weeks are subject to change in future reports. Time periods covered by each metric: cases = week ending each Saturday; wastewater = week ending each Saturday, with a one-week lag; ED data = week ending each Sunday; hospitalizations = week ending each Saturday; deaths = week ending each Monday, with a three-week lag; death percentage = week ending Monday, with a one-week lag. Case data is presented by episode date, an approximation of the date the illness began, and death data is presented by date of death. This is a change from how case and death data were presented prior to July 26, 2023, which was by date of report. Daily average cases do not include Long Beach and Pasadena. Daily average deaths include Long Beach and Pasadena for 11/22, 11/15, and 11/8. Long Beach and Pasadena are not included in the daily average death count for 11/29 because data was not available from CDPH due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

• A wide range of data and dashboards on COVID-19 from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health are available on the Public Health website at http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/COVIDdata including:

• COVID-19 Locations & Demographics (data by demographic characteristics and geography, active outbreaks, and citations)

• COVID -19 Response Plan

• COVID -19 Vaccinations

• Skilled Nursing Facility Metrics

Always check with trusted sources for the latest accurate information about novel coronavirus:

• Los Angeles County Department of Public Health:

http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/

• California Department of Public Health: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/nCOV2019.aspx

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Spanish:

https://espanol.cdc.gov/enes/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

• World Health Organization https://www.who.int/health -topics/coronavirus

• LA County residents can also call 2-1-1

Cases through 12:00pm 11/27/2023
	Total Cases
Laboratory Confirmed Cases (includes LB and Pas through 6/27/23; excludes LB and Pas after 6/27/23)	3,825,076
Deaths (includes LB and Pas)	36,987
Cases by Age Group (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
- 0 to 4	116,197
- 5 to 11	285,055
- 12 to 17	279,941
- 18 to 29	769,158
- 30 to 49	1,155,372
- 50 to 64	631,244
- 65 to 79	278,923
- over 80	100,902
- Under Investigation	3,291
Cases by Gender (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
- Female	1,871,779
- Male	1,656,137
- Other	1,901
- Under Investigation	90,266
Cases by Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
- American Indian/Alaska Native	6,878
- Asian	271,191
- Black	192,918
- Hispanic/Latino	1,538,298
- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	18,089
- White	506,555
- Other	418,316
- Under Investigation	667,838
Hospitalization (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
- Hospitalized (Ever)	189,324
Deaths by Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
- American Indian/Alaska Native	82
- Asian	4,613
- Black	3,293
- Hispanic/Latino	17,015
- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	114
- White	9,388
- Other	475
- Under Investigation	107
CITY / COMMUNITY**	Cases	Case Rate
City of Agoura Hills	6499	31121
City of Alhambra	26208	30220
City of Arcadia	14114	24438
City of Artesia	6200	36916
City of Avalon	298	7702
City of Azusa	17830	35631
City of Baldwin Park	30255	39410
City of Bell	17228	47418
City of Bell Gardens	17399	40396
City of Bellflower	31432	40435
City of Beverly Hills	11889	34441
City of Bradbury	71	6642
City of Burbank	33685	31428
City of Calabasas	6062	24923
City of Carson	35907	38262
City of Cerritos	13804	27571
City of Claremont	10647	29183
City of Commerce*	5954	45558
City of Compton	41104	41143
City of Covina	20752	42323
City of Cudahy	12351	50729
City of Culver City	12359	31002
City of Diamond Bar	14028	24390
City of Downey	47618	41674
City of Duarte	7677	34870
City of El Monte	43585	37167
City of El Segundo	4203	25039
City of Gardena	22555	36788
City of Glendale	61719	29889
City of Glendora	15526	29425
City of Hawaiian Gardens	5112	34832
City of Hawthorne	30385	34222
City of Hermosa Beach	4873	24774
City of Hidden Hills	394	20847
City of Huntington Park	26660	44819
City of Industry	1056	241648
City of Inglewood	39738	34986
City of Irwindale	903	61892
City of La Canada Flintridge	4706	22742
City of La Habra Heights	215	3941
City of La Mirada	14612	29460
City of La Puente	16252	39934
City of La Verne	9454	28406
City of Lakewood	27788	34579
City of Lancaster*	65661	40639
City of Lawndale	10850	32278
City of Lomita	6293	30358
City of Lynwood*	31878	44246
City of Malibu	2963	22861
City of Manhattan Beach	7673	21314
City of Maywood	13012	46390
City of Monrovia	12153	31322
City of Montebello	25956	40320
City of Monterey Park	17988	28891
City of Norwalk	43879	40771
City of Palmdale	68207	42906
City of Palos Verdes Estates	2355	17416
City of Paramount	23089	41213
City of Pico Rivera	28598	44487
City of Pomona	66850	42872
City of Rancho Palos Verdes	8131	19021
City of Redondo Beach	16160	23524
City of Rolling Hills	306	15773
City of Rolling Hills Estates	1621	19980
City of Rosemead	15587	28161
City of San Dimas*	11339	32851
City of San Fernando	13007	52848
City of San Gabriel	11917	29099
City of San Marino	2511	18912
City of Santa Clarita	75713	34349
City of Santa Fe Springs	8018	43662
City of Santa Monica	27461	29705
City of Sierra Madre	2513	22868
City of Signal Hill	4197	35577
City of South El Monte	8572	41044
City of South Gate	47853	48752
City of South Pasadena	6513	24999
City of Temple City	11007	30193
City of Torrance	35681	23904
City of Vernon	361	172727
City of Walnut	7758	25409
City of West Covina	40443	37366
City of West Hollywood	11573	31320
City of Westlake Village	459	5490
City of Whittier	31887	36471
Los Angeles	1561686	38612
Los Angeles - Adams-Normandie	3266	39820
Los Angeles - Alsace	4635	37244
Los Angeles - Angeles National Forest	0	0
Los Angeles - Angelino Heights	856	34213
Los Angeles - Arleta	17210	50073
Los Angeles - Atwater Village	5197	35436
Los Angeles - Baldwin Hills	10562	33934
Los Angeles - Bel Air	2534	30063
Los Angeles - Beverly Crest	3427	27361
Los Angeles - Beverlywood	4326	32840
Los Angeles - Boyle Heights*	41086	47288
Los Angeles - Brentwood	8677	28031
Los Angeles - Brookside	158	27194
Los Angeles - Cadillac-Corning	2348	32973
Los Angeles - Canoga Park	25916	39694
Los Angeles - Carthay	4541	31616
Los Angeles - Central	17219	44160
Los Angeles - Century City	3892	30425
Los Angeles - Century Palms/Cove	16624	49233
Los Angeles - Chatsworth	13323	35949
Los Angeles - Cheviot Hills	2632	28699
Los Angeles - Chinatown	3028	37751
Los Angeles - Cloverdale/Cochran	5437	37360
Los Angeles - Country Club Park	5008	33050
Los Angeles - Crenshaw District	5507	39822
Los Angeles - Crestview	4074	35837
Los Angeles - Del Rey	8723	29139
Los Angeles - Downtown*	16501	59988
Los Angeles - Eagle Rock	14137	35709
Los Angeles - East Hollywood	9772	33366
Los Angeles - Echo Park	4584	32155
Los Angeles - El Sereno	17249	41258
Los Angeles - Elysian Park	1874	32808
Los Angeles - Elysian Valley	3637	35759
Los Angeles - Encino	15670	34690
Los Angeles - Exposition	1319	39657
Los Angeles - Exposition Park	18536	41267
Los Angeles - Faircrest Heights	1297	36028
Los Angeles - Figueroa Park Square	3876	44444
Los Angeles - Florence-Firestone	23206	48911
Los Angeles - Glassell Park	11235	35549
Los Angeles - Gramercy Place	4304	39985
Los Angeles - Granada Hills	22170	38099
Los Angeles - Green Meadows	10273	47770
Los Angeles - Hancock Park	4850	28464
Los Angeles - Harbor City	9684	33313
Los Angeles - Harbor Gateway	16097	36920
Los Angeles - Harbor Pines	661	27439
Los Angeles - Harvard Heights	6269	34760
Los Angeles - Harvard Park	18378	48446
Los Angeles - Highland Park	17598	36366
Los Angeles - Historic Filipinotown	5604	40404
Los Angeles - Hollywood	22196	32520
Los Angeles - Hollywood Hills	7868	26731
Los Angeles - Hyde Park	12274	43005
Los Angeles - Jefferson Park	3222	39911
Los Angeles - Koreatown	16531	31979
Los Angeles - Lafayette Square	1631	35775
Los Angeles - Lake Balboa	16673	39504
Los Angeles - Lakeview Terrace	6301	47978
Los Angeles - Leimert Park	5930	38924
Los Angeles - Lincoln Heights	13056	40053
Los Angeles - Little Armenia	3113	38791
Los Angeles - Little Bangladesh	8817	31108
Los Angeles - Little Tokyo	1539	49122
Los Angeles - Longwood	1839	42728
Los Angeles - Los Feliz	6579	30447
Los Angeles - Manchester Square	3345	39187
Los Angeles - Mandeville Canyon	934	29898
Los Angeles - Mar Vista	11363	26755
Los Angeles - Marina Peninsula	994	22798
Los Angeles - Melrose	26846	34553
Los Angeles - Mid-city	4618	30725
Los Angeles - Miracle Mile	5082	28257
Los Angeles - Mission Hills	12216	50638
Los Angeles - Mt. Washington	8396	34773
Los Angeles - North Hills	25954	42150
Los Angeles - North Hollywood	60412	39897
Los Angeles - Northridge	26316	37704
Los Angeles - Pacific Palisades	5208	24461
Los Angeles - Pacoima	39512	51328
Los Angeles - Palisades Highlands	958	24909
Los Angeles - Palms	12487	28459
Los Angeles - Panorama City	34268	45539
Los Angeles - Park La Brea	3336	24566
Los Angeles - Pico-Union	16653	39800
Los Angeles - Playa Del Rey	625	19556
Los Angeles - Playa Vista	3560	32520
Los Angeles - Porter Ranch	10924	30696
Los Angeles - Rancho Park	2330	35518
Los Angeles - Regent Square	903	32482
Los Angeles - Reseda	32980	43045
Los Angeles - Reseda Ranch	1845	39797
Los Angeles - Reynier Village	1210	28619
Los Angeles - San Pedro*	26970	34560
Los Angeles - Shadow Hills	1349	30369
Los Angeles - Sherman Oaks	28543	32713
Los Angeles - Silverlake	13603	30858
Los Angeles - South Carthay	3397	32062
Los Angeles - South Park	17112	45078
Los Angeles - St Elmo Village	1909	41645
Los Angeles - Studio City	7251	32313
Los Angeles - Sun Valley	23691	45140
Los Angeles - Sunland	7086	34722
Los Angeles - Sycamore Square	213	32921
Los Angeles - Sylmar*	43081	52284
Los Angeles - Tarzana	10891	35273
Los Angeles - Temple-Beaudry	13743	34808
Los Angeles - Thai Town	2869	29249
Los Angeles - Toluca Lake	2628	30193
Los Angeles - Toluca Terrace	541	41424
Los Angeles - Toluca Woods	498	26803
Los Angeles - Tujunga	9218	33146
Los Angeles - University Hills	950	27705
Los Angeles - University Park	11771	42872
Los Angeles - Valley Glen	11467	38203
Los Angeles - Valley Village	8788	35550
Los Angeles - Van Nuys*	38538	41352
Los Angeles - Venice	9389	27708
Los Angeles - Vermont Knolls	7690	44709
Los Angeles - Vermont Square	3819	49876
Los Angeles - Vermont Vista	19090	46351
Los Angeles - Vernon Central	25028	48133
Los Angeles - Victoria Park	2875	34230
Los Angeles - View Heights	1155	31267
Los Angeles - Watts	20056	46998
Los Angeles - Wellington Square	1882	38291
Los Angeles - West Adams	11176	40449
Los Angeles - West Hills	13354	32936
Los Angeles - West Los Angeles	12074	32081
Los Angeles - West Vernon	25167	46915
Los Angeles - Westchester	14349	27807
Los Angeles - Westlake	21331	35938
Los Angeles - Westwood	17244	31869
Los Angeles - Wholesale District*	22777	63044
Los Angeles - Wilmington	24178	42803
Los Angeles - Wilshire Center	17440	34762
Los Angeles - Winnetka	20498	39582
Los Angeles - Woodland Hills	21348	31369
Unincorporated - Acton	2081	26107
Unincorporated - Agua Dulce	1022	24579
Unincorporated - Altadena	12151	27856
Unincorporated - Anaverde	428	28382
Unincorporated - Angeles National Forest	94	7550
Unincorporated - Arcadia	2333	29232
Unincorporated - Athens-Westmont	2869	58587
Unincorporated - Athens Village	18014	42444
Unincorporated - Avocado Heights	2783	41077
Unincorporated - Azusa	6483	40715
Unincorporated - Bassett	6340	42789
Unincorporated - Bouquet Canyon	215	20037
Unincorporated - Bradbury	143	132407
Unincorporated - Canyon Country	3884	50259
Unincorporated - Castaic*	10008	36806
Unincorporated - Cerritos	193	32879
Unincorporated - Charter Oak	10	50000
Unincorporated - Claremont	161	22934
Unincorporated - Covina	6416	38147
Unincorporated - Covina (Charter Oak)	5160	39257
Unincorporated - Del Aire	1256	28591
Unincorporated - Del Rey	151	47484
Unincorporated - Del Sur	715	29607
Unincorporated - Desert View Highlands	988	39631
Unincorporated - Duarte	2063	46590
Unincorporated - East Covina	92	27964
Unincorporated - East La Mirada	1678	31708
Unincorporated - East Lancaster	45	39474
Unincorporated - East Los Angeles	59610	47586
Unincorporated - East Pasadena	437	6825
Unincorporated - East Rancho Dominguez	6465	42233
Unincorporated - East Whittier	1477	27836
Unincorporated - El Camino Village	2833	32226
Unincorporated - El Monte	1	690
Unincorporated - Elizabeth Lake	296	17821
Unincorporated - Florence-Firestone	30862	47696
Unincorporated - Franklin Canyon	2	16667
Unincorporated - Glendora	202	30606
Unincorporated - Hacienda Heights	16921	30256
Unincorporated - Harbor Gateway	4	400000
Unincorporated - Hawthorne	780	31026
Unincorporated - Hi Vista	175	15938
Unincorporated - Kagel/Lopez Canyons	331	23442
Unincorporated - La Crescenta-Montrose	4618	23322
Unincorporated - La Habra Heights	21	3107
Unincorporated - La Rambla	978	47133
Unincorporated - La Verne*	671	32892
Unincorporated - Ladera Heights	2172	30717
Unincorporated - Lake Hughes	208	31138
Unincorporated - Lake Los Angeles	4160	32015
Unincorporated - Lake Manor	479	29154
Unincorporated - Lakewood	28	24561
Unincorporated - Lennox	7834	34753
Unincorporated - Leona Valley	317	18104
Unincorporated - Littlerock	1447	35986
Unincorporated - Littlerock/Juniper Hills	369	28450
Unincorporated - Littlerock/Pearblossom	1347	37742
Unincorporated - Llano	111	12657
Unincorporated - Marina del Rey	2833	30103
Unincorporated - Miracle Mile	0	0
Unincorporated - Monrovia	1156	29786
Unincorporated - Newhall	109	49545
Unincorporated - North Lancaster	515	42988
Unincorporated - North Whittier	3227	38600
Unincorporated - Northeast San Gabriel	5487	22828
Unincorporated - Padua Hills	38	17674
Unincorporated - Palmdale	273	32423
Unincorporated - Palos Verdes Peninsula	135	21739
Unincorporated - Pearblossom/Llano	443	22648
Unincorporated - Pellissier Village	381	61551
Unincorporated - Placerita Canyon	24	5217
Unincorporated - Pomona	129	6656
Unincorporated - Quartz Hill	3997	30970
Unincorporated - Rancho Dominguez	1252	47050
Unincorporated - Roosevelt	288	30934
Unincorporated - Rosewood	524	40747
Unincorporated - Rosewood/East Gardena	563	47192
Unincorporated - Rosewood/West Rancho Dominguez	1389	41327
Unincorporated - Rowland Heights	12797	25081
Unincorporated - San Clemente Island	0	0
Unincorporated - San Francisquito Canyon/Bouquet Canyon	46	5361
Unincorporated - San Jose Hills	8076	39939
Unincorporated - San Pasqual	91	4472
Unincorporated - Sand Canyon	64	20779
Unincorporated - Santa Catalina Island	597	223596
Unincorporated - Santa Monica Mountains*	4059	21798
Unincorporated - Saugus	354	228387
Unincorporated - Saugus/Canyon Country	152	42697
Unincorporated - South Antelope Valley	126	27692
Unincorporated - South El Monte	772	43008
Unincorporated - South San Gabriel	3322	37545
Unincorporated - South Whittier	22044	37223
Unincorporated - Southeast Antelope Valley	260	33291
Unincorporated - Stevenson Ranch	6213	29634
Unincorporated - Sun Village	2188	36249
Unincorporated - Sunrise Village	604	46605
Unincorporated - Twin Lakes/Oat Mountain	454	27382
Unincorporated - Val Verde	1252	37836
Unincorporated - Valencia	971	31608
Unincorporated - Valinda	9854	42163
Unincorporated - View Park/Windsor Hills	3756	32282
Unincorporated - Walnut Park	7558	46819
Unincorporated - West Antelope Valley	196	12972
Unincorporated - West Carson	8676	39283
Unincorporated - West Chatsworth	5	41667
Unincorporated - West LA	955	100315
Unincorporated - West Puente Valley	4340	44128
Unincorporated - West Rancho Dominguez	511	37601
Unincorporated - West Whittier/Los Nietos	10969	40739
Unincorporated - Westfield/Academy Hills	265	20385
Unincorporated - Westhills	208	24791
Unincorporated - White Fence Farms	954	25903
Unincorporated - Whittier	1027	27141
Unincorporated - Whittier Narrows	78	650000
Unincorporated - Willowbrook	17091	48953
Unincorporated - Wiseburn	1973	32736
- Under Investigation	74572
* --Case and death numbers include cases identified among persons detained at correctional facilities located in the city/community
Data are subject to change based on further investigation

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