A new COVID vaccine is on the way. Here’s where and when you can get it in SLO County
Earlier this week, federal regulatory agencies approved the latest iterations of the COVID-19 vaccine that protects against current variants, and San Luis Obispo County Public Health anticipates the updated vaccine will be available locally in the coming weeks.
The guidelines on who should get how many doses of the latest vaccine vary based on age, risk level and previous vaccination status, according to a Public Health news release.
“Like the flu shot, this vaccine is updated to protect against the strains circulating right now ― so you and your family can stay healthy this winter,” County Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein said in the release. “If you haven’t had a COVID-19 vaccine in the last two months, I encourage you to get this updated vaccine to protect yourself and help our community avoid a serious surge this winter.”
The new COVID-19 vaccine is available from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advised everyone six years and older get an updated vaccine from either company, the release said.
People older than 65 may want a second dose of the vaccine, and those who are moderately to severely immunocompromised may want to get more doses.
Children from 6 months to 5 years should received at least one dose of the new vaccine and may get more doses depending upon their age and previous vaccination status, according to the release.
The vaccine is fully covered by most health insurance providers, including Medi-Cal and Covered California health plans. People who are uninsured can access the vaccine for free through the Public Health clinic and other programs, the release said.
“We are fortunately in a much better place with COVID-19 than we were even a year ago, and we want to keep moving on a healthy path forward from the pandemic. Updated COVID-19 vaccines and flu shots are our most powerful tools to keep moving forward as a community,” Borenstein said in the release.
Shipments of the vaccine will be arriving locally in the coming weeks, and patients should be able to access them from pharmacies, doctor’s offices and Public Health clinics.
To schedule a vaccine appointment, visit www.vaccinefinder.org or www.myturn.ca.gov. Those without insurance can call the Public Health clinic at 805-781-5500 to schedule a no-cost vaccine or to ask questions, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For updates on COVID-19 in SLO County, visit slopublichealth.org/COVID19.
