California Clarifies Expectations for Administering COVID-19 Boosters

This week, senior officials clarified the state’s expectations for local health jurisdictions and providers in administering COVID-19 vaccine boosters. In a letter from CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Tomás Aragón, vaccine providers throughout the state are instructed to:

• Proactively outreach to patients who are age 65 and older, have underlying medical conditions, or received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine (single dose).

• Allow patients to self-determine their risk of exposure; do not turn a patient away who is requesting a booster if the patient is 18 or over and has met the six-month original vaccination series time period for the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or if it has been at least two months since their Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

• For pharmacies, prioritize Long Term Care facility partnerships to provide COVID-19 vaccine boosters to those in Skilled Nursing Facilities and Assisted Living Facilities.

Further, CDPH reminds all providers to not miss any opportunity to vaccinate the unvaccinated or provide boosters by offering vaccine during routine or non-routine visits to medical offices, clinics, pharmacies, and hospitals. The full letter is available here.

California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS) Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly during a press conference in Los Angeles County with Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday also reiterated the state’s clarification, encouraging residents to receive a COVID-19 vaccine or booster when they are eligible. Additional information from the Governor’s Office is available here.