How To Get A COVID-19 'Booster' Shot In Riverside County

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — As Riverside County's coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue trending up, local health officials announced Thursday that a third COVID-19 vaccine dose is now available for some people, and booster shots are expected to become widely administered next month.

Here's what to know in Riverside County:

Who Can Get The Shots And Where?

—Those who are moderately to severely immunocompromised can now get a third Moderna or Pfizer vaccine dose through mobile clinics run by Riverside County Public Health as well as through many pharmacies and health care providers. Contact your local provider or pharmacy, or visit www.rivcoph.org/covid-19-vaccine to schedule an appointment or get more information.

— Mixing of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines is permitted for the third dose if the original vaccine is unavailable, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

—In late September, Moderna and Pfizer booster shots will be rolled out to everyone 12 and older, according to federal officials. Eligibility for the third dose will begin eight months after an individual’s second shot.

—Second doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are not yet available (immunocompromised or otherwise). An update from federal officials is expected in the next few weeks, and it's likely a second shot will be recommended for all J&J recipients.

What Is A Booster And Why Do I Need It?

Health officials are differentiating between "additional vaccine doses for the immunocompromised" and "booster shots" for everyone else.

According to the CDC, an "additional dose" is intended to improve immunocompromised people’s response to their initial vaccine series and is not the same as a booster.

"Emerging data suggest some people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems do not always build the same level of immunity compared to people who are not immunocompromised," according to the CDC. "At a time when the Delta variant is surging, an additional vaccine dose for some people with weakened immune systems could help prevent serious and possibly life-threatening COVID-19 cases within this population."

On the other hand, booster shots are supposed to "maximize vaccine-induced protection" over a longer period than what the two-dose series provides.

"The available data make very clear that protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection begins to decrease over time following the initial doses of vaccination, and in association with the dominance of the Delta variant," according to a joint statement this week from the CDC and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "We are prepared to offer booster shots for all Americans beginning the week of September 20 and starting eight months after an individual’s second dose."

What Documentation Do You Need To Get A Third Shot?

According to health officials, immunocompromised individuals do not need to show proof of their medical history to receive an additional vaccine dose. Getting a third shot of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine is currently based on the honor system.

The CDC said the following conditions are considered moderately to severely immunocompromised:

• Receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
• Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Received a stem cell transplant within the last two years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
• Advanced or untreated HIV infection
• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response

Those with concerns or questions about their own health status should speak to their primary care physician to determine whether the additional vaccine is appropriate.

“The additional vaccine dose is critical to protect those whose health is already compromised,” said Riverside County Public Health Officer Dr. Geoffrey Leung. “This additional protection will save lives.”

It's unclear if/how vaccination providers will check booster shot eligibility for people without compromised immune systems. The shots will be available for all Americans beginning the week of September 20 and starting eight months after an individual’s second dose, according to the CDC and HHS.

Riverside County's Latest COVID-19 Figures

COVID-related deaths and hospitalizations continued ticking up Thursday in Riverside County.

There were 535 patients with coronavirus-related illnesses in county hospitals on Thursday, up six from Wednesday, while the number of intensive care patients with the virus decreased to 102, down four from the day before, according to the Riverside University Health System.

The RUHS also reported four additional virus-related deaths, bringing the county's total to 4,693.

Fatalities are trailing indicators because of delays processing death certificates and can date back weeks.

In addition, 1,161 new cases were reported Thursday, bringing the total number of COVID cases recorded in the county to 324,739 since March of 2020, when public health officials began documenting cases.

According to the RUHS, 51.9 percent of all county residents have been fully vaccinated.