Alex Padilla U.S. Senator for California

LOS ANGELES, CA — This week, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) highlighted the importance of vaccines for schoolchildren and booster shots for eligible adults. As the parent of young children, the Senator emphasized how vaccinating every eligible person is key to ending the pandemic.

Padilla joined the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and local leaders at Arleta High School to encourage parents and guardians to vaccinate kids ages 5-11. He also joined California Governor Gavin Newsom in a visit to a COVID-19 vaccine and flu shot clinic at the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center to highlight the state’s ongoing efforts to increase vaccination rates and promote booster shots for eligible populations, including veterans.

NBC 4 Los Angeles: KNBC Los Angeles on LAUSD Vaccine Event

• L.A. Unified School District is making the COVID vaccine available to children as young as 5 years old today. 
• Senator Alex Padilla was there for today’s kickoff in Arleta. […]
• Senator Padilla says kids want to get the shot. “Our children know how key vaccinations are to protecting the health, that of their families, that of their friends, that of their classmates, that of their communities. And they’re eager to make it happen as another significant step towards ‘normal.’

Los Angeles Daily News: Sen. Padilla, other officials buoy LAUSD’s efforts to give vaccines to students 5-11

• Some of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s youngest learners received their first coronavirus vaccine dose on Monday, Nov. 8, as the nation’s second-largest school district rolled out its vaccination program to children ages 5 to 11.
• On Monday, school board President Kelly Gonez, Vice President Nick Melvoin, interim Superintendent Megan Reilly, U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla and L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer visited Arleta High School to promote the vaccination campaign.

East Bay Times: ‘Winter is coming’: COVID spiked last holiday season, Gov. Newsom reminds California

• Gov. Gavin Newsom stopped by the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center Wednesday morning, Nov. 10, to encourage Southern Californians to get vaccinated as the state prepares for winter and a looming flu season.
• Newsom joined Sen. Alex Padilla, Health and Human Services Agency Director Dr. Mark Ghaly, and local health experts to talk last holiday season’s deadly winter surge and address the state’s ongoing efforts to ensure all of California’s communities have equitable access to a coronavirus vaccine.
• Padilla, meanwhile, joked this is the first time his children have been excited for a shot. “But my real serious point is,” Padilla said, “it’s not just public health experts, it’s not just the medical professionals — our children know how important these vaccines are for their health and safety.”
• So when questions about 46% of Latinos still not being vaccinated arose, Padilla said, “just as with conserving water and energy, a lot of times kids are the ones that teach and motivate the parents.”

Telemundo 52: Autoridades buscan proteger a los más vulnerables contra el COVID-19

• El gobernador de California Gavin Newsom y el senador Alex Padilla estuvieron en Los Ángeles para movilizar a más personas a vacunarse contra el coronavirus.
• Atención porque California podría estar al borde de caer en otra nueva ola de contagios ya que la población no estaría protegiéndose del COVID con la dosis de refuerzo. Es el mensaje que también dieron el gobernador Gavin Newsom y el senador Alex Padilla, quiénes visitaron el centro de salud para veteranos en el oeste de Los Ángeles pues buscan a proteger a los más vulnerables.
• Padilla: “Había preocupación sobre acceso a las vacunas por qué no todos vivimos cerca de un gran hospital, no todo el mundo tiene seguro medico.” […] “Seguimos combatiendo la mala información que existe no solo, pero especialmente, en las redes sociales.” […] “Cuando empleadores ofrecen el tiempo para trabajadores que vayan a vacunarse, más trabajadores se vacunan.”

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