PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) has announced the second year of its Spring into Health event, taking place Saturday, May 3, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Cal Rec Community Center at Ernest McBride Park (1550 Martin Luther King Jr Ave.). This year’s event, which is free and open to the public, will focus on serving Long Beach’s Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities, with the goal of increasing vaccination rates among these populations.

"With this year’s Spring into Health event, we are expanding services to further serve our Asian American and Pacific Islander populations,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “By adding the Hepatitis B vaccine to our many offerings of health resources, education and programs, we are taking a step forward in addressing both the immediate health care needs and long-term wellness of our community."

Spring into Health will offer a wide range of health services and resources at no-cost, including flu, COVID-19 and, for the first time, Hepatitis B vaccinations. Data shows that AAPI communities are disproportionately affected by Hepatitis B and have lower vaccination rates. The Health Department will also connect attendees with various Department programs, as well as Medi-Cal, Dignity Health’s Educated Men with Meaningful Messages, Cambodian-focused community-based organizations, and other community resources. Attendees who receive a vaccination at the event will be entered into a gift card opportunity drawing.

“This event is an opportunity for residents to access critical services in a culturally competent and welcoming environment,” said City Health Officer Dr. Anissa Davis.

In 2023, the Health Department conducted a community assessment and collected data from Cambodian community members to understand beliefs and barriers regarding COVID-19 and flu vaccinations. Forty percent of respondents reported difficulty accessing vaccination sites or not knowing where to go, highlighting the importance of bringing services directly into the community. Ernest McBride Park was selected as the venue for the 2025 Spring into Health Event due to its location within a neighborhood with a significant Cambodian population, further aligning with the event’s goal of reaching local AAPI communities.

This event supports the Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan and builds on the Health Department’s Hepatitis B grant initiative focused on reducing health disparities and increasing vaccination rates in underserved populations.

For more information or to join the Spring into Health event, people may visit longbeach.gov/immunizations.

About the City of Long Beach 
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. More information about the Long Beach Health Department is available at longbeach.gov/health and on Instagram, Facebook and X.