SLO County now offering Moderna and J&J COVID booster shots. Are you eligible?
A bigger group of San Luis Obispo County residents can now get COVID-19 vaccine boosters — but who’s eligible and what’s the best way to sign up for shots?
The county Public Health Department announced on Oct. 25 that Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccine recipients can get boosters. And residents can also mix and match their shots, meaning their booster vaccine brand can differ from the one they received during their first doses.
When Public Health first started administering boosters, only Pfizer vaccine recipients were eligible for shots, and officials had not yet approved vaccine mixing and matching.
The recent update comes after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup approved these changes.
So who’s now eligible for COVID-19 booster vaccines and where are they available? Here’s a roundup of common questions to help you decide whether to get one.
Should I get a booster shot?
The CDC reports available COVID-19 vaccines are still working well to prevent “severe illness, hospitalization and death.”
“However, public health experts are starting to see reduced protection, especially among certain populations, against mild and moderate disease,” the CDC’s website says.
Clinical trial data shows Pfizer and Moderna boosters “increased the immune response in trial participants who finished their initial series six months earlier,” the CDC’s website said.
The same was true for Johnson & Johnson vaccine recipients who got a booster two months after the one-dose shot.
“With an increased immune response, people should have improved protection against COVID-19, including the Delta variant,” the CDC reports.
Am I eligible for a booster shot?
If you got the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, you’re eligible for a booster if you meet these criteria:
- You received your second vaccine dose at least six months ago
- You’re 65 or older
- 18 or older and living in a long-term care facility, have an underlying medical condition, work in a high-risk setting or are at increased risk for social inequalities
The CDC’s list of underlying medical conditions includes cancer, chronic kidney and liver diseases, chronic lung diseases, dementia, diabetes, HIV, heart conditions and other immunocompromising conditions.
The agency’s list of high-risk jobs include first responders, education staff, food and agriculture workers, manufacturing workers, corrections workers and grocery store workers.
The CDC could expand the list of those eligible for COVID-19 vaccines.
If you got the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you’re eligible for a booster if you meet these criteria:
- You received your vaccine dose at least two months ago
- You’re 18 or older
Can I mix and match my vaccines? Which booster should I get?
Yes, the FDA, CDC and Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup now say you can pick a brand of COVID-19 booster different from the vaccine you originally got.
For example, if you first received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, you could get a Moderna booster. Or, if you got one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you could get a Pfizer booster.
Officials suggest you should talk to your doctor about which booster is the right one for you. Studies suggest different vaccine combinations may be best, based on your personal health needs.
Where can I get a COVID-19 booster?
The county Public Health Department is currently offering Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson boosters to all eligible people.
Public Health clinics in San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles and Grover Beach are scheduling appointments based on vaccine type, so you should call ahead or make an online reservation if you want a specific booster.
The county is taking walk-ins for boosters, but staff won’t be able to guarantee you’ll get the brand you want.
To make an appointment at a county Public Health clinic, visit MyTurn.ca.gov or call 833-422-4255.
You can also get boosters at local pharmacies or private medical clinics. To find boosters at pharmacies near you, visit Vaccines.gov.
For more information on booster shot eligibility, visit CDC.gov.
