Santa Clara Co. Health Officials Urge Residents To Get Boosters

By Olivia Wynkoop, Bay City News Foundation

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — As the holiday season approaches and vaccination efficiency is proven to decrease over time, the Santa Clara Public Health Department encourages eligible county residents to receive a COVID-19 booster shot.

Eligible residents are defined as anyone over the age of 18 who received their last Pfizer or Moderna vaccination 6 months ago or longer, or for the Johnson & Johnson recipients, 2 months after their last dose.

As of Tuesday, 206,765 out of 1,082,317 eligible county residents have received their booster, according to county data.

"We want to safeguard the public and prevent a COVID-19 surge as the holiday season approaches," Santa Clara Health Officer and Director of Public Health Dr. Sara Cody said in a statement. "We ask everyone who can to sign up for a booster shot to protect themselves, their family and their friends. Get your booster now and make your Thanksgiving gathering safer."

County clinics are accepting booster appointments, with many locations offering walk-ins for Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. Residents can visit the www.sccfreevax.org for more information.

"We have plenty of booster vaccination doses and more can be acquired for booster shots," Dr. Marty Fenstersheib, COVID-19 vaccine officer for the County of Santa Clara, said in a statement. "This is a safe and easy way to make the holidays safer for our loved ones."

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