Dear Friend --

Earlier today, at the same hospital where my mom passed away, I witnessed the first medical workers in our city receive the COVID-19 vaccine. As a healthcare worker, my mom would have been in the front of the line with her co-workers. I’m so grateful to have witnessed our heroes get the support they need.

These same nurses and doctors are the same people who took care of my mom and countless others. I got to know them personally, as a son calling in multiple times a day to check in on my mom. I can’t thank them enough and I know she is looking down on this moment with much pride.

Pictured above is one of the first health care workers to receive the vaccine today, Brandon Gatling. Brandon has been working as an RN for MemorialCare Long Beach for 3-years and is currently a lead clinical nurse in the COVID-19 unit. He spoke today about his first-hand experience taking care of people with the virus.

Brandon has always been interested in medicine and became a nurse out of a desire to help people. He showed us all that this vaccine is safe and the beginning of a new era in our battle against COVID-19.

This was a great day for Long Beach. For up-to-date information on our city's vaccination rollout, please visit our website here.

Thank you and stay safe,

Mayor Robert Garcia