Deadline for Vaccination Sign-Ups Is Nearing

Time is running out for the 55 hospitals in Los Angeles County that have not committed to join the nationwide smallpox vaccination program for emergency medical workers.

March 15 is the deadline to submit names of employees willing to be vaccinated, county public health director Dr. Jonathan Fielding said Tuesday.

There were 340 volunteers on the county’s list as of Tuesday from 15 of the county’s 83 eligible hospitals. Thirteen hospitals have opted out of the program, which is intended to protect health workers who would respond to a bioterrorist attack.

As it stands, those signed up would use just a fraction of the 8,300 doses the county ordered for hospitals.

“I’d be very surprised if we could use all those doses,” Fielding said. “I’m disappointed that some hospitals are not giving their employees -- those who would be appropriate -- an opportunity to volunteer.”

Hospitals, citing liability issues and health risks, have been reluctant to participate.

Initially, the county Department of Health Services wanted all names turned in by early February. But the department continued accepting names because so few hospitals expressed interest.

Health officials said the March cutoff is nonnegotiable because the vaccine expires in May, and the county needs some lead time to arrange the vaccinations.