LOS ANGELES, Calif.—The number of people getting their first jab of the COVID-19 vaccine increased last week by 40 percent compared to the week before at Cedars-Sinai, and health officials statewide also are reporting an uptick in first-dose vaccinations. “More people are finally getting their shot,” Cedars-Sinai officials said Aug. 8 as they compared vaccine distribution between the weeks of July 19 and July 26, having dosed 600 people last week. Statewide, California reported an increase of 20 percent in the total number of first vaccine doses administered to more than 265,000 people the week of July 19 compared to the week of July 12. “Any increase in the number of individuals being vaccinated at this point is very welcome news,” said infectious disease specialist Dr. Soniya Gandhi, who is the vice president of Medical Affairs and associate chief medical officer at Cedars-Sinai. Gandhi emphasized that the vaccination remains “the …