COVID-19 Updates

COVID-19 VACCINES FOR CHILDREN 5+

The CDC has recently expanded eligibility for COVID-19 vaccination. Children ages 5-11 are now able to receive the Pfizer vaccine. This means that nearly everyone 5 years and older can get vaccinated and combat transmission, illness, and death from COVID-19. Even better, families can reunite with more safety, peace of mind, and a sense of normalcy.

PROOF OF VACCINATION

Right now, only certain establishments like bars, venues, and nightclubs require proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 in Los Angeles County. However, other businesses may choose to require proof of vaccination to protect customers and employees. Later this November, LA plans to mandate proof of full vaccination to enter indoor restaurants, malls, venues, salons, gyms and other places.  There are a few different ways you can provide proof: 

·      Bring your white vaccination card you received at your appointment, or a yellow WHO vaccination card

·      Bring documentation from a healthcare provider

·      Bring a digital vaccination record from the California Department of Public Health or from an approved company

 You can read more about proof of vaccination here.

One way to receive a convenient, digital vaccination record from the California Department of Public Health is to visit the Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record and enter your name and birthdate. You then will receive a document to your email or mobile phone that shows your proof of vaccination.

 

Booster Shots Approved for All 3 Vaccines, Can Mix Them

As of Oct 21, The CDC and FDA approved the use of Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccine boosters. This comes 2 weeks after the approval of Pfizer’s booster shot. There are a few things you need to know about who can get a booster shot, when they are recommended., and where to find them.

Recommendations  About Timing

Vaccines have different guidelines for when to receive a booster.

For those that received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, a booster shot can be given at least 2 months after the original dose in people age 18 years and older. For those that received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, a booster shot can be given at least 6 months after the second dose of the original vaccine.

Mix-and-Match

Vaccines series can be “mixed” by choice or availability.

For example, someone who was fully vaccinated with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine can receive a Pfizer OR Moderna booster shot 2+ months after their primary dose. Similarly, someone who was fully vaccinated with a Pfizer vaccine can receive a booster shot of the Johnson & Johnson OR Moderna vaccine 6+ months after their final dose. You may also choose to get a booster shot that is the same type of vaccine you were originally given.

Locations & more Information

You can receive a booster shot virtually wherever you received your original vaccine. This is because booster shots are just additional doses of the original vaccines. To make an appointment or find a walk-in clinic near you, visit https://myturn.ca.gov/.

To read more about booster shots, eligibility and approval, visit the FDA or CDC websites.

Booster Shots Now Available for Older Adults

The FDA has just approved COVID-19 booster shots for people aged 65 years or older. Right now, booster shots are only available to people who received the Pfizer vaccine series. A booster shot is an additional, 3rd shot of the same formula that will increase protection against COVID-19.

As of Friday, many locations in Los Angeles have started to offer Pfizer booster shots. To find out where to receive a booster shot, click here. At this time, booster shots are not available to everyone, or to those who have received either Johnson & Johnson or Moderna vaccines. More information about other booster shots will come soon. For a full list of groups eligible to receive a booster shot, refer to CDC recommendations.

COVID-19 Booster Shots

What is a booster shot?

Booster shots are a third dose of a vaccine you can get 8 months after your second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine series. They are not different formulations but can help grant additional immunity against COVID-19. Many other common vaccines recommend booster shots to offer more protection, including the tetanus vaccine. There are currently no booster shots available for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Why are booster shots important?

All vaccines against COVID-19 are highly effective at preventing acquisition of and hospitalizations from COVID-19. Booster shots do not mean that vaccines are not effective.

However, over time immunity against COVID-19 can become less strong. Many new variants have surfaced, and each is better adapted to survive and infect more people. Booster shots give your body more material to better recognize and fight against the virus. Booster shots will be recommended for people 8 months after they have received a second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna Vaccines.

 

When will booster shots be available?

Now, people who are severely immunocompromised, including transplant patients and those receiving treatment for cancer, are eligible to get a booster. This is because people who are severely immunocompromised have trouble mounting an immune response on their own and need more material to reach a level of immunity that others have. Ask your doctor if you think you may qualify.

The Biden Administration has announced a preliminary plan to offer booster shots to other groups like older adults who are vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of September.

 

Is there a booster shot for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine?

There is no booster shot for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at this time. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was developed and approved later than the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, so there is not enough data to tell if a booster shot will be recommended. As more data comes out, it is likely that a booster shot will eventually be recommended.

 

If I got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, can I get a booster shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine?

As of now, no. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are mRNA vaccines that work differently than the Johnson & Johnson, which is a viral vector vaccine. There is not enough data to support mixing different types of vaccines.

 

How can I get more information?

The COVID-19 landscape is changing every day. For reliable information about booster shots and when they will roll out, please refer to the LA Department of Public Health website or the FDA website.