As COVID-19 vaccine booster eligibility expands, Napa County Public Health and other healthcare partners are scaling up vaccination operations and encouraging newly eligible residents to consider booster doses.
Last week, the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup, with endorsement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA), issued a recommendation to expand eligibility for COVID-19 vaccine booster doses. For individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at 6 months or more after their initial series:
- 65 years and older
- Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings
- Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions
- Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings
Booster shots are also recommended for people who got the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine if they are 18 and older and were vaccinated two or more months ago.
These new CDC recommendations also allow eligible individuals to choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type that they originally received, and others may prefer to get a different booster.
“While all three vaccines remain highly effective at preventing serious COVID-19 illness and death, providing boosters for those at particularly high-risk for serious illness, such as older people and those who are immunocompromised, will maximize protection against existing and potential variants of the virus,” says Dr. Karen Relucio, Public Health Officer and Deputy Director of Napa County Health and Human Services Agency.
Public Health estimates that, as of October 26, 2021:
- 23,726 residents in Napa County received their second dose of Pfizer at least 6 months ago
- 25,371 received their second dose of Moderna at least 6 months ago
- 5,417 residents received their Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago.
Many of these individuals are now eligible to receive booster doses.
The 10-month-old vaccination campaign, coordinated locally by Napa County Public Health in partnership with state health agencies, local hospitals, pharmacies, health clinics and community organizations, has succeeded in delivering at least one dose to 93 percent of the eligible population in Napa County, outpacing state and national efforts. By comparison, 80 percent of the eligible population in California and 78 percent of eligible Americans have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
While you don’t need an appointment at many places to get a first, second or third dose, it is very easy to make an appointment for a booster dose. You can go to MyTurn.CA.gov or to Napa County’s COVID-19 website to make an appointment, find walk-in vaccination opportunities, and to learn more about booster shots. Many pharmacies and clinics countywide are also accepting appointments through their own systems.
Vaccinations are widely available throughout Napa County and are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status. Napa County Public Health is currently providing booster doses of Pfizer at our combination flu-COVID-19 clinics and is preparing to provide booster doses of Moderna and Johnson & Johnson at our vaccine clinics beginning the first week of November.
If you need help finding an appointment, connecting to free transportation to and from a vaccination site, or scheduling a home-visit if you are homebound, or have any questions about vaccination access you can contact the Napa County Public Information line at 707-253-4540 or email [email protected]