COVID-19 kills 9 in Shasta County; how to get new booster while state site is down

Jessica Skropanic, Redding Record Searchlight
·2 min read
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Nine people died of COVID-19 between Aug. 30 and Sept. 12, Shasta County Health and Human Services announced Wednesday evening: Including a man in his 30s.

He is the tenth Shasta County resident in that age group to die of the virus, according to county data.

The other eight who died were:

  • A woman and two men in their 60s

  • A woman and a man in their 70s

  • Two women in their 80s

  • One person over the age of 89 whose gender was not identified

The nine deaths bring the total number of Shasta County residents known to have died from COVID to 687 people. That number includes three reported deaths in June, eight in July and 14 in August.

While serious cases of the disease mostly affect older adults, young people are at risk: Especially those living with obesity, diabetes or high blood pressure, according to Johns Hopkins Medical School.

Also this week, the state is updating its COVID vaccination appointment program to include the bivalent booster: A reformulated vaccine cocktail issued by Pfizer and Moderna that targets original COVID and the omicron BA.4 and BA.5 strains.

Until the update is finished, people won't be able to schedule booster appointments for people ages 12 and older through the state's website at myturn.ca.gov, the state announced. The announcement didn't say when the update will be finished and services restored.

However, people still make appointments at local pharmacies. They can also see a list of vaccine clinics — with phone numbers to call for appointments — on the county's website, ShastaReady.org, Shasta County Health and Human Services said.

"The FDA has authorized the Moderna bivalent booster for adults aged 18 and older, and Pfizer bivalent booster for those ages 12 and older," the agency said. "Everyone who has had their primary series is eligible to get the updated booster at least two months following any COVID vaccine or booster dose."

For more information on public health services go to co.shasta.ca.us/index/hhsa.

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Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and entertainment stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: COVID-19 deaths, hospitalizations vaccination rates in Shasta County