Vaccinations For South Bay Educators, Seniors On Track

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — More than 24oo South Bay educators have received COVID-19 vaccinations through the Beach Cities Health District, and the second round is scheduled to begin next week at the Manhattan Beach site, BCHD CEO Tom Bakaly told Patch.

Any leftover vaccines go to eligible residents, including seniors and those suffering from underlying health conditions, via mobile units, Bakaly said.

The community health organization opened up the vaccination clinic at BCHD AdventurePlex, 1701 Marine Ave. earlier this month at the closed POD location. Volunteers at the site are vaccinating people from 11 South Bay school districts in closed clinics.

"Because we are using Pfizer vaccines, which must be kept at a certain temperature, we have several protocols we have to follow in order to keep them fresh," Bakaly said. "If we have leftover vaccines following a clinic, we send our mobile strike teams out into the community to administer shots to older adults and people who have compromised health issues."

BCHD coordinates with five licensed social workers who manage the health and wellbeing of local seniors. "We work with them to determine who still needs the shots and then go into their residences," Bakaly said.

BCHD has an ongoing relationship with LA County and teamed with Children's Hospital Los Angeles back in August 2020 to launch a system assessment tool that can be accessed via smartphone to expedite entry to school campuses for students and staff. "Receiving the vaccinations is a result of that positive relationship," Bakaly said.

BCHD wanted a POD for teachers because of their irregular hours. "We like to close gaps, and we felt that teachers were having a more difficult time scheduling their shots because of the hours they worked. Our clinics, which are typically held Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 2 p.m. to 7 or 8, meet those needs."

Bakaly says the clinics have been running very smoothly, thanks to the dedication of medical volunteers, and they have been vaccinating as many as 500 people per clinic.

Coronavirus testing is also still available at the BCHD campus at 514 N Prospect Ave., Redondo Beach. Bakaly invites anyone with questions to contact the healthline: 310-374-3426, ext 256.

Learn more about Beach Cities Health District on the website: https://www.bchd.org/.

To make a vaccine appointment in L.A. County and when you are eligible, sign up and learn more at www.VaccinateLACounty.com.