California well being officers are encouraging any grownup who desires a COVID-19 booster shot to get one, but on-line reserving methods for securing appointments haven’t caught up with the newest messaging.
SFGATE checked a number of websites — together with the state’s My Flip, Walgreens and Kaiser — and all of them nonetheless ask in case you are at excessive danger for problems, or work or reside in a high-risk setting.
Until you test the field that you just qualify underneath this standards, these websites will let you know that you do not meet the necessities for an appointment.
The California Division of Public Well being did not instantly reply to a request for touch upon whether or not the state’s vaccination appointment system might be up to date to make it simpler for extra individuals to ebook appointments with out confusion.
California’s transfer to push extra adults to get boosters skirts the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention pointers that suggest boosters for individuals 65 and older, in addition to these 18 and older who’ve underlying well being situations or reside or work in high-risk settings comparable to a hospital, faculty, grocery retailer or put up workplace.
It comes as Gov. Gavin Newsom warned in a Nov. 10 press convention that the state ought to put together for a winter surge although California is doing comparatively higher than different states by way of circumstances and hospitalizations.
Whereas statewide hospitalizations have fallen by about half since a summer season peak on the finish of August, they’ve began creeping up in some areas, significantly the Central Valley and parts of Southern California together with Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.
“We’ve seen some indicators that counsel issues,” mentioned Newsom, who obtained his booster on Oct. 27.
At a Nov. 10 press convention, Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of the California Well being and Human Companies Company, mentioned the state is working with healthcare suppliers, pharmacies and vaccine websites to make sure no one who desires a booster is turned away. In different phrases, anybody is eligible so long as two months have handed because the single-dose Johnson & Johnson shot or a minimum of six months have handed because the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna.
“Completely if you happen to’re keen on getting a booster we ask that you just go forward and get your self signed as much as get one,” Ghaly mentioned.
Analysis reveals that whereas COVID-19 vaccines are efficient, the immunity might wane over time, and Ghaly famous that this can be a cause to get a booster.
Additional, the state despatched a letter to well being care suppliers encouraging them to provide a booster to any affected person 18 years and older who self-determines that they’re vulnerable to publicity.
Santa Clara Well being Officer Dr. Sara Cody echoed the state’s messaging and known as on residents within the county to get their boosters earlier than Thanksgiving.
“We ask everybody who can to enroll in a booster shot to guard themselves, their household and their buddies,” Cody mentioned.
The Related Press contributed to this story.
