New recommendations for COVID booster shots

On Oct. 21, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ recommendation for a booster shot of COVID19 vaccines for those who are 65 years and older, as well as other high-risk portions of the population, no matter which vaccine they received. Further, it was decided that eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose.

People who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID19 vaccine are eligible for a booster shot at six months or more after their initial series if:

• They are 65 years and older

• They are aged 18 and older and live in long-term care settings

• They are aged 18 and older and have underlying medical conditions

• They are aged 18 and older and work or live in high-risk settings For those who got the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are also recommended if they are 18 and older and were vaccinated two or more months ago.

The CDC’s recommendations now allow for mixing and matching booster shots. Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type that they originally received, while others may prefer to get a different booster.

“These recommendations are another example of our fundamental commitment to protect as many people as possible from COVID-19,” said Walensky. “The evidence shows that all three COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States are safe, as demonstrated by the more than 400 million vaccine doses already given.”

According to the CDC, current available data show that all three of the COVID-19 vaccines approved or authorized in the United States continue to be highly effective in reducing risk of severe disease, hospitalization and death, even against the widely circulating Delta variant. Vaccination remains the best way people can protect themselves as well as others by reducing the spread of the virus and helping to prevent new variants from emerging.

To find a COVID-19 vaccine, people can find information from the Orange County Health Care Agency at occovid19.ochealthinfo. com/covid-19-vaccine-distributionchannels, or they can visit vaccines. gov. Vaccines are also available through most local pharmacies, including Walgreens, CVS and Rite Aid. Help finding a vaccine location is also available by calling 1-800-232-0233.

Vaccines help prevent community spread of the COVID virus.