L.A. Care Hosts the First in a Series of Facebook Live Q&As to Dispel COVID-19 Vaccine Myths & Misinformation

LOS ANGELES – While the number of Americans who say they plan to get a COVID-19 vaccine is higher than ever, a new Pew Research Center survey shows that 30% of those eligible still do not plan to get vaccinated, which will slow down our efforts to get past this health crisis. They cite a variety of reasons that are generally steeped in misinformation, including concerns about the side effects or efficacy of the vaccines, which were developed quickly. People have also questioned whether they could get COVID-19 from the vaccines or whether their DNA might be altered.

It is critical that trusted voices dispel these myths and spread facts about the COVID-19 vaccines. L.A. Care Health Plan is going to help do that with a Facebook Live event this week.

Getting the vaccine is the best way for you to protect yourself and your loved ones and the best way for us to get back to normal,” said Richard Seidman, MD, MPH, L.A. Care Chief Medical Officer. “As a health plan that serves communities that suffered the highest number of hospitalizations and deaths, we want to do all we can to stress the importance of getting a vaccine.”

Dr. Ilan Shapiro, a member of L.A. Care’s Board of Governors, will help dispel the misinformation during two Facebook Live sessions – one in English and one in Spanish.

My patients struggled with the mixed messages that were coming from government officials early in the pandemic, and I am committed to making sure they get an accurate message now that we see light at the end of the tunnel. We need to start vaccinating our communities against fear with a dose of truth,” said Shapiro, who is also the Medical Director of Health and Wellness Education at AltaMed Health Services. “I am especially grateful that L.A. Care is allowing me to spread the message in Spanish, as I have many Spanish-speaking patients, and I know they are more likely to reach out to someone who is sharing information that is culturally relevant to our community.”

L.A. Care invites you to join these informative Facebook Live Q&As. 

Just go to Facebook.com/LACareHealth

Tuesday, April 13
1:00 pm – Spanish Q&A
2:00 pm – English Q&A

The Facebook Live sessions, which will be held every four to six weeks, are just one part of L.A. Care’s efforts to ensure that everyone get one of the three FDA approved vaccines that are now being offered. The health plan is also holding a series of 16 COVID-19 dive-thru vaccine clinics through May 1 in communities across Los Angeles County. To register for a vaccine appointment, go to lacare.org/vaccine.