Los Angeles (AP) – Vaccinations against COVID-19 have begun in California amid a huge surge in infections and hospitalizations. Intensive care unit nurse Helen Cordova received a shot of the Pfizer vaccine Monday at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center. Gov. Gavin Newsom tweeted that Cordova was one of the first Californians to be vaccinated. The first shipments of the Pfizer vaccine left Michigan early Sunday for 145 distribution centers nationwide. California’s initial batch was scheduled to total 325,000 doses arriving over several days. Newsom said another 400,000 doses would arrive next week. Doses of the vaccine should arrive in Shasta County by the end of this week and will be stored at Mercy Medical Center.
Testing is available by appointment only and anyone can get tested for free in Shasta Lake, Anderson, South Redding, Enterprise and at Shasta College. Testing at the Enterprise office is on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Testing is done on Saturday in Anderson and in the City of Shasta Lake on Sunday. Public health is asking the public not to go to the testing sites unless they have an appointment. Appointments for free testing at any of these sites can be made at lhi.care/covidtesting or visit shastaready.org.