Health providersin California cannot turn away adults 18 and olderseeking a COVID-19 booster shot, according to a letter dated Nov. 9fromDr. Toms J. Aragn, the states public health director, expanding eligibility past older individuals and others with high risks.<\/p>\n
The letter states that while providers should proactively outreach to patients who are 65 and older, have underlying health conditions, and received the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine, they should also allow patients to \"self-determine their risk of exposure.\"That mayinclude their work, location,household members or social inequity.<\/p>\n
\"Do not turn a patient away who is requesting a booster if the patient is 18 or over and has met the 6-month original vaccination series time period for the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or it has been at least 2 months since their J&J vaccine,\"Aragn writes in the letter.<\/p>\n
Related:Coachella Valley youngsters get their COVID-19 vaccines<\/p>\n
More:California parents can schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments for children ages 5-11<\/p>\n
More than 179,800 additional\/booster doses have been administered in Riverside County, according to county data.<\/p>\n
California's booster eligibility goes beyondthe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's guidance, which endorsed boosters in October for individuals who: received their initial Pfizer or Moderna vaccine series at least six months ago; are 65 and older; 18 and older and live in long-term care settings, have underlying medical conditions orwork or live in high-risk settings; or received their Johnson & Johnson shot at least two months ago.<\/p>\n
Colorado and New Mexico have also expanded booster eligibility to all adults.<\/p>\n
Pfizer and BioNTechasked the U.S. Food and Drug Administrationto authorize theirbooster shotfor adults 18 and older on Nov. 9, but no decision has been made as of Monday.<\/p>\n
Ema Sasic covers health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com<\/a> or on Twitter @ema_sasic.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Read the rest here:<\/p>\n COVID-19 booster eligibility expanded to all adults in California - Desert Sun<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Health providersin California cannot turn away adults 18 and olderseeking a COVID-19 booster shot, according to a letter dated Nov. 9fromDr Continue reading