Four-Fold Difference in Case Rate Between Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Children as Cases Increase Among LAC Children and Youth

LOS ANGELES, Calif. Aug 28 – The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed 30 new deaths and 3,627 new cases of COVID-19. Of the new deaths reported today, three people who died were over the age of 80, eight people who died were between the ages of 65 and 79, nine people who died were between the ages of 50 and 64, six people who died were between the ages of 30 and 49 years old and one death was a person between the ages of 18 and 29 years. Three deaths were reported by the City of Long Beach.

To date, Public Health identified 1,400,837 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 25,240 deaths. There are 1,708 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 26% of these people are in the ICU.

Testing results are available for over 8,066,000 individuals with 16% of people testing positive. Today’s daily test positivity rate is 2.4%.

While case rates among all adult age groups declined these past couple of weeks, case rates among children significantly increased. Among unvaccinated children (ages 12 to 18 years) the case rate rose from 73 to 307 new cases per 100,000 youth, with a substantially smaller increase among vaccinated children from 11 to 76 new cases per 100,000 youth. It is important to note that while cases among children increased across the board, there is a four-fold difference in the case rate between vaccinated children and unvaccinated children.

“For all those who are experiencing the sorrow of losing a loved one to COVID-19, our thoughts and prayers are with you,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “Case, hospitalization and death rates are higher among unvaccinated members of all groups than they are among those vaccinated. Vaccinated people continue to have rates for all outcomes that are many-fold lower than those unvaccinated – they are 4 to 8 times less likely to be hospitalized, and 5 to 7 times less likely to die from an infection. During this period of high transmission, protecting those younger than 12 who are not yet eligible for the vaccine, is of utmost importance and we can all take as many precautions as feasible to limit risk of transmission. This includes moving activities outdoors whenever possible, distancing and avoiding crowds, masking always when indoors and outdoors if distancing isn’t possible, and carefully assessing non-essential activities that carry more risk of transmission. These precautions, together with vaccinations for all those eligible, protect our youngest county residents and help keep our schools open.”

Teens 12 and over are eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine at any County and city sites without an appointment. Additionally, many school districts and individual schools, including Los Nietos Middle School, Whittier Union, and Wilsona, are offering vaccinations over the next few weeks. LAUSD, which has over 45 standing school sites, will be rolling out a mobile vaccine campaign administering vaccines at every middle and high school in its district. You can ask your school site for a vaccination schedule.

To find a vaccination site near you, make an appointment at vaccination sites, and much more, visit: www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) and www.VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish). If you don’t have internet access, can’t use a computer, or you’re over 65, you can call 1-833-540-0473 for help finding an appointment, connecting to free transportation to and from a vaccination site, or scheduling a home-visit if you are homebound.

COVID-19 Sector Protocols, Best Practices, COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard, COVID-19 Surveillance Interactive Dashboard, Recovery Dashboard, and additional actions you can take to protect yourself, your family and your community are on the Public Health website www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.