Moderna COVID Vaccine Closer To Full FDA Approval, RivCo Update

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Riverside County's coronavirus patient count continued to climb Thursday, with an additional six virus-related deaths reported amid news that another COVID-19 vaccine is on the path of full approval.

On Thursday, the Riverside University Health System reported the number of people hospitalized for COVID countywide was 652, up seven from Wednesday, while the number of intensive care unit patients decreased to 135, two fewer than a day earlier.

The RUHS reported six new COVID-related deaths for a total of 4,719 fatalities from the virus since the pandemic began in March 2020. The fatalities are trailing indicators because of delays processing death certificates and can date back weeks, according to health officials.

Officials said the total number of COVID cases recorded since the beginning of the pandemic was 331,416, compared to 330,327 on Wednesday.

The figures come a day after Moderna announced it has completed its submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for full approval of its COVID-19 vaccine for people ages 18 and older.

Moderna has requested a priority review. On Monday, the FDA approved the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for people age 16 and older; the approval was for the two-dose series.

Pfizer and BioNTech announced this week they have begun submitting data for full FDA approval of a third dose of their vaccine.

Riverside County Public Health Director Dr. Geoffrey Leung told the county's Board of Supervisors this week that plans for widespread availability of COVID booster shots are underway.

A third shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine is currently available for residents with compromised immune systems, and booster shots for all could begin the week of Sept. 20.

Last week, federal health officials recommended that all vaccinated Americans get a booster eight months after they become fully vaccinated. That amounts to a third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine — and "likely" an additional dose for people who received the one-dose Johnson & Johnson shot.

In Riverside County, 52.9 percent of people 12 and older are fully vaccinated against COVID, according to RUHS.

Information on vaccination in Riverside County is available here.