California health officials to vaccine providers: Don’t turn away people who want COVID-19 boosters

Galley, from what you said, are you saying that everybody sh geouldt a booster if they want one and is that in line with what the A FD issaying? So, the the CDC was very clear th eyhad two categories, groups that should get a booster and gr oupsthat may. We know that a number of Californians rk wo incrowded public settings with the public and in that case because of yo ur work-related risk or even you live with people who have underlying conditions are at higher risk themselves or you're a member of a community that's been ravished and hard hit by COVID and in those cases, it 'spermissive by the CDC and the FDA to go ahead and get the booster and weare saying for all of the reasons we've talked about, increasing evidce enthat the longer you completed your series ago, that you might ve hawaning immunity that get yourself protected and if you're interested, we're urging both people to go go to their health care providers, go to eir thpharmaci, esgo to any site, and working with those sites to make sure that no one's turned away. So, absolutely, if you are interested in getting a booster wek asyou to go ahead and get

California health officials say they have simplified the state’s guidance to "empower" more people to get a COVID-19 booster shot after having completed their primary vaccination series. The state said Monday it has reached out to providers and will also update the My Turn appointment booking portal to reflect that patients should be able to “self-determine their risk of exposure” as required for booster eligibility.With concerns growing over a possible increase in COVID-19 cases in the coming weeks, California’s top health official Dr. Mark Ghaly last week recommended that every California adult who received their primary series of a COVID-19 vaccine get a booster.“If you think you will benefit from getting a booster shot, I encourage you to go out and get it,” he said. But complications in the state's messaging arose because California's main booking tool My Turn and other providers’ screening systems listed stricter eligibility requirements for boosters based on federal agencies' recommendations.Public health experts have said people who are fully vaccinated are still strongly protected against hospitalization and death from COVID-19, but immunity against infection can wane over time. Pfizer is seeking FDA authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine booster shot for all adults, a move that the government's top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said he endorses based on Israel’s success with its booster campaign to combat waning immunity.But the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have yet to explicitly sign off on the move. California, as well as Colorado and New Mexico, are moving ahead anyway. California’s Department of Public Health (CDPH) sent a letter to local health agencies and providers dated Nov. 9 that calls for allowing patients to “self-determine their risk of exposure.” The letter from Public Health Officer Tomás Aragón says:“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.The patient’s assessment of risk exposure may include, but is not limited to, those who work with the public or live with someone who works with the public, live or work with someone at high risk of severe impact of COVID, live in geographic areas that have been heavily impacted by COVID, reside in high transmission areas, live in a congregate setting, experience social inequity, or other risk conditions as assessed by the individual.”| RELATED | Read the full letter hereIn a statement to KCRA 3, CDPH said California’s guidance on boosters “is in alignment with the CDC. It is simplified to help empower more Californians to get a booster.”My Turn’s eligibility screening tool will be updated by Wednesday, CDPH said. “In the meantime, people can speak to their provider or find a walk-in clinic to find a booster dose near them,” CDPH said.

California health officials say they have simplified the state’s guidance to "empower" more people to get a COVID-19 booster shot after having completed their primary vaccination series.

The state said Monday it has reached out to providers and will also update the My Turn appointment booking portal to reflect that patients should be able to “self-determine their risk of exposure” as required for booster eligibility.

With concerns growing over a possible increase in COVID-19 cases in the coming weeks, California’s top health official Dr. Mark Ghaly last week recommended that every California adult who received their primary series of a COVID-19 vaccine get a booster.

“If you think you will benefit from getting a booster shot, I encourage you to go out and get it,” he said.

But complications in the state's messaging arose because California's main booking tool My Turn and other providers’ screening systems listed stricter eligibility requirements for boosters based on federal agencies' recommendations.

Public health experts have said people who are fully vaccinated are still strongly protected against hospitalization and death from COVID-19, but immunity against infection can wane over time.

Pfizer is seeking FDA authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine booster shot for all adults, a move that the government's top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said he endorses based on Israel’s success with its booster campaign to combat waning immunity.

But the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have yet to explicitly sign off on the move.

California, as well as Colorado and New Mexico, are moving ahead anyway.

California’s Department of Public Health (CDPH) sent a letter to local health agencies and providers dated Nov. 9 that calls for allowing patients to “self-determine their risk of exposure.”

The letter from Public Health Officer Tomás Aragón says:

“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.

The patient’s assessment of risk exposure may include, but is not limited to, those who work with the public or live with someone who works with the public, live or work with someone at high risk of severe impact of COVID, live in geographic areas that have been heavily impacted by COVID, reside in high transmission areas, live in a congregate setting, experience social inequity, or other risk conditions as assessed by the individual.”

| RELATED | Read the full letter here

In a statement to KCRA 3, CDPH said California’s guidance on boosters “is in alignment with the CDC. It is simplified to help empower more Californians to get a booster.”

My Turn’s eligibility screening tool will be updated by Wednesday, CDPH said.

“In the meantime, people can speak to their provider or find a walk-in clinic to find a booster dose near them,” CDPH said.

California health officials to vaccine providers: Don’t turn away people who want COVID-19 boosters

TRACKING THE COVID-19 VACCINE

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