Riverside County COVID Update: J&J, Moderna Booster News

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The number of COVID-positive patients hospitalized in Riverside County continued a slow decrease Friday.

According to the Riverside University Health System, COVID-related hospitalizations countywide dropped to 278 Friday, compared to 305 one week ago. The number of patients in intensive care was 70 on Friday, down from 85 a week ago.

The total number of COVID cases recorded since the public health documentation period began in March 2020 stood at 359,577, up by 2,271 new cases over the last week.

Officials said on Friday 5,092 deaths from virus-related complications have been recorded in the last roughly 19 months. It's an increase of 29 fatalities reported over the last week. The fatalities are trailing indicators because of delays processing death certificates and can go back a month, sometimes longer.

RUHS reported Thursday that 59.2 percent of county residents 12 and older are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Free doses of the vaccine, including boosters, continue to be available across Riverside County. The Pfizer vaccine is the only one that has received emergency use authorization as a booster, but advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration voted this week to recommend boosters for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines.

Booster doses of Moderna’s vaccine are being recommended after six months of a second shot for people over 65 and for adults with conditions putting them at risk of severe disease or whose living or work conditions put them at high risk of complications or severe disease.

Booster doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are recommended for everyone over the age of 18 who got a dose at least two months prior.

The FDA is now mulling a decision on the Moderna and J&J boosters.