Happy Holidays from BCHD CEO Tom Bakaly
The end of a calendar year provides an opportunity to look back and reflect on the past 12 months. One year ago this week, we were celebrating the introduction of vaccines to fight COVID-19. We were sure the end of the pandemic was near.
2021 has dealt us all a reality check in fighting this virus. Variants like Delta and Omicron have complicated the battle. Vaccine hesitancy and worse, misinformation, have kept many people from getting vaccinated, the best tool we have in the fight against COVID-19.
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Last week we finished our COVID-19 school vaccine clinics for 5-11 year olds. During the months of November and December, we hosted 18 vaccine clinics at our 514 N. Prospect Ave. Campus and at schools across Hermosa Beach City School District, Manhattan Beach Unified School District and Redondo Beach Unified School District.
Thank you to all our volunteers, partners and school districts that made this possible. We couldn’t have done it without you!
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BCHD Care Managers Deliver Holiday Gift Bags and Hand-knitted Blankets to Local Veterans
BCHD volunteers knitted blankets that were personally delivered to local veterans by BCHD's Care Managers. Each veteran that is part of BCHD's Care Management program received a blanket and a holiday gift bag filled with household items. Thank you to all of the holiday gift bag program donors and volunteers who made this possible!
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Hours Update: BCHD administrative offices will be closed from Friday, December 24, through Sunday, January 2. |
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New Booster Recommendations for 16-17 year olds
Under new recommendations by the CDC and Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup, providers may now administer booster doses of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (but not other brands) to 16-17 year olds at least 6 months after their initial Pfizer vaccination series.
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Omicron, A New Variant of Concern
While the Delta variant remains the dominate variant detected among Los Angeles County residents and continues to account for 100% of cases sequenced, the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) identified by the World Health Organization in South Africa as a “variant of concern” on November 26 and by the Centers for Disease Control on November 30 is being closely monitored. The first confirmed case of the Omicron variant was detected in California on December 1 and Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported the first case in the County on December 2.
Omicron has an unusual number of mutations, more than 30 of which are in the spike protein, which is the “door key” the virus uses to enter and infect humans. This could be concerning because mutations to the spike protein could increase how contagious the virus is or if it has the ability to escape from vaccine protection. Early signs indicate that Omicron spreads quickly, as it is now the dominate strain in South Africa, where it was originally identified.
Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health says, “All indications are that Omicron can spread rapidly among both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. Early data suggests that many of those fully vaccinated do not experience serious illness, reminding us that one of the most critical steps to take right now is to urgently get vaccinated if not yet protected or boosted as soon as you are due for the additional dose. The vaccines are likely to provide much needed protection against severe illness associated with Omicron and are already known to provide protection against infection and disease associated with the Delta variant that still dominates across the County.”
Health Officer Order
- Updated to align with the State Public Health Officer's requirement that beginning December 15, 2021, all persons attending an Indoor or Outdoor Mega Event, who cannot provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, must present proof of a pre-entry negative COVID-19 test result from either an antigen test within one day or a PCR test conducted two days prior to entry. For Indoor Mega Events children under 2 years of age are exempt from the pre-entry testing requirement for entry. For Outdoor Mega Events children under 5 years of age are exempt from the pre-entry testing requirement for entry.
- Continues to require that masks be worn in all public indoor settings, irrespective of vaccination status.
- Encourages everyone ages 16 and older to receive a COVID-19 booster vaccination dose as soon as they are eligible.
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Percent (%) of population 5+ vaccinated with at least 1 dose
As of December 9, 2021
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Covered California Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment for Covered California is open! If you're in need of health insurance, make sure to sign up before the Jan. 31 deadline. BCHD is also available to help and offering FREE enrollment appointments.
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Kindness – A Gift that Keeps on Giving
What better time to reflect on the impact of acts of kindness than during December, a month of giving?
There are many opportunities to make a difference in a loved one’s life, whether it’s giving them valuable time or a meaningful gift. You can also support those in your community and make a difference, perhaps by shopping from locally owned businesses, giving to local charities or helping neighbors in need.
If you have shared your gifts of kindness or if someone has shared their gift of kindness with you, we would love to hear your story!
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Center for Health & Fitness
- Indoor Gym Floor Exercise Equipment Reservations
- Indoor/Outdoor Group Exercise Classes
- Virtual Classes
- Yoga & Pilates
- Massage
- Personal Training
- Small Group Training
- 65+ Programs
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AdventurePlex
- Drop-in Play
- Seasonal Camps
- Weekend Camps
- ToddlerTown
- 5-level play structure
- Birthday Parties
- Special Events
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Virtual Social Hour with BCHD Care Manager Charlotte Barnett
We want to provide a space for people to talk, ask questions and share their experience during COVID-19. Join us if you want to learn more about community resources or BCHD, or if you just want to connect! Open to all.
First & Third Tuesday of the Month
(December 21 & January 4)
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
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Virtual Mindfulness Drop-In
Take 30 minutes to downshift and practice mindfulness techniques. The guided session will be led by a trained Beach Cities Health District instructor.
First Wednesday of the Month
(January 5)
4 – 4:30 p.m.
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Center for Health & Fitness (CHF) Open House
Did you know you are more likely to succeed when you work out with a partner? Invite a friend to CHF's open house and start the New Year off with health and fitness! Enjoy FREE classes, tours, demos and more!
Saturday, January 8
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
514 N. Prospect Ave. (second floor)
Redondo Beach
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Virtual Happiness Chats
This is a casual discussion group with light-hearted activities to spark conversation. Share ideas, tips, resources, jokes, quotes – anything that supports our happiness!
Second Tuesday of the Month
(January 11)
12:30 – 1 p.m.
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Virtual Families Connected Parent Chat
A free parent support group led by a licensed professional from the Thelma McMillen Center for Alcohol and Drug Treatment at Torrance Memorial Medical Center held in partnership with South Bay Families Connected. Open to all parents.
Tuesdays
10 – 11 a.m.
*No session on December 28
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Need Help?
If you or someone you know in the Beach Cities needs help with health-related information and referrals, please call our Assistance, Information & Referral line at 310-374-3426, and press option 1, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or visit us online at bchd.org/resources. BCHD administrative offices will be closed from Friday, December 24, through Sunday, January 2. Calls received during this time will be returned when our office reopens.
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Healthy Living Campus Takes Steps Forward
The transformation of our aging 11-acre campus in Redondo Beach into a modern, intergenerational Healthy Living Campus has taken some major steps in recent months.
Specifically, a 1,178-page Environmental Impact Report (EIR), which assessed the potential environmental impacts of the proposed campus and mitigations to reduce them, was certified by the BCHD Board of Directors in September. In November, following 3 ½ hours of presentations, public comments and deliberations, the Board approved the campus project.
Both actions received 5-0 votes by the publicly-elected BCHD Board of Directors.
Next steps include the selection of an operator for the Residential Care of the Elderly facility and awarding a design-build construction contract, with a tentative start for construction in 2023.
The approved project features:
- A Youth Wellness Center (for ages 12 – 25)
- At least two acres of active open green space
- Residential Care for the Elderly (reduced from 420 units to 217, including memory care)
- Program for All-inclusive Care for the Elderly, or PACE, an out-patient program that includes medical care, medication management and adult day health care services.
- A new energy-efficient, seismically compliant facility
- Bike and pedestrian paths
- Programmable space for community services and activities, creating greater access to BCHD’s robust preventive health benefits
- Building height limited to 83 feet and under (the tallest building on the current campus is 76 feet)
- Buildings shifted to the north behind the Vons center and away from the Torrance-facing east side of the campus
- Minimized construction time: five years in two phases (originally nine years in three phases)
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