News Update

Los Angeles Unified schools could be used as vaccination sites

Schools in Los Angeles Unified should be used as vaccination sites for school staff, community members and students once a vaccine is approved for children, the district’s superintendent said Monday.

Austin Beutner, the superintendent, said during a speech that he has asked state and L.A. county public health officials to “immediately authorize Los Angeles Unified to provide vaccinations.”

“We have reviewed the guidelines issued by the Department of Public Health and are working diligently to formally enroll in the government vaccination and reporting programs, and complete all necessary planning and paperwork,” Beutner said. “We hope state and local agencies will expedite the review process once our application is received.”

Beutner said schools in the district are “uniquely situated” to provide vaccinations. He said L.A. Unified already has the necessary staffing to administer vaccinations and that the district’s facilities “are well-designed for large-scale distribution and provision of services.”

He also noted that the district has more than 1,400 schools serving communities that spread more than 700 square miles.

“Our schools are conveniently located right in the middle of neighborhoods where people live, which will help make vaccines accessible to people in all communities, in particular those which may lack access to health care services,” he said.