Pfizer COVID-19 Booster Shots Now Available Across RivCo

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Riverside County residents 65 years of age and older, and those at risk of severe COVID-19 illness, can now get the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster at one of several clinics operated by the county's Public Health department and its community partners, it was announced Monday.

The Pfizer booster shot is available for those who received their second vaccine dose at least six months ago, according to county health officials.

Federal and state health officials have approved the use of the Pfizer booster.

County health officials said the following people should get a booster:

• People 65 years of age and older;
• Residents in long-term care settings;
• And people aged 50-64 years with underlying medical conditions.

According to the county health officials, the following groups can also receive the booster:

• People aged 18-49 years with underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot, based on their individual benefits and risks.
• And people aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of their occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot based on their individual benefits and risks.

“The booster vaccine is something that has been discussed for many weeks and we are very excited that Public Health, along with our community partners, are now in a position to move forward,” said Dr. Geoffrey Leung, Public Health Officer for Riverside County. “Those who are eligible should be confident that a vaccine booster will be available for anyone who wants one.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is still evaluating data on boosters for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

The federal agency announced Friday that it expects "in the coming weeks to swiftly make additional recommendations for ... people who got the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines."

COVID-19 vaccines have been available in Riverside County since December, and more than 2.6 million doses have been administered between Public Health clinics and those operated by community partners, such as pharmacies, hospitals, private health providers and private clinics, according to Riverside University Health System.

RUHS data updated Monday showed 57.6 percent of county residents 12 and older were fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Some of the issues that plagued the early rollout of the vaccine, such as supply shortages, lack of appointments and technical glitches, have been resolved, county health officials said.

“We have learned many lessons along the way and those challenges we faced before have been addressed,” Leung said. “We have worked in collaboration with our community partners and we are confident the infrastructure that is in place now will handle any demand for the booster dose.”

Riverside County health officials will be adding five new fixed clinic locations throughout the county, along with bringing on additional mobile vaccine teams that will be able to provide services to hard-to-reach communities and neighborhoods.

Those who have yet to get their first dose are also encouraged to get vaccinated.

For more information about vaccination clinic locations or to make an appointment for shots, visit ww.rivcoph.org/coronavirus.

News that the Pfizer boosters were available comes as the county nears a grim milestone in the number of COVID-19 deaths countywide.

A total of 4,963 deaths from virus-related complications have been recorded in the past 18 months, up by 12 since Friday, according to RUHS data. The fatalities are trailing indicators because of delays processing death certificates and can go back weeks, according to health officials.

The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 was reported at 381 on Monday, down 41 from Friday. The figure includes 111 intensive care patients.

On Monday, 669 new COVID infections were confirmed, lifting the county's overall number of cases since the pandemic began to 351,710.

RUHS does not release updated COVID-19 statistics on weekends.