Getting the new COVID-19 vaccine in Ventura County: What we know
As a COVID-19 wave continues, updated vaccines are expected at some Ventura County sites by Saturday.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday approved Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines that target newer variants. Almost immediately, California public health officials encouraged the shots for everyone 5 and older who have not received a COVID-19 shot in at least two months. They also advocated the shots for children as young as 6 months.
CVS and Walgreens officials said people can immediately begin scheduling the vaccines on their websites with CVS saying all of their stores should have supplies by early next week. Rite Aid said it expects its scheduling website to be active as of Friday.
Others may wait a little longer for supplies. Ventura County Public Health clinics and many doctor’s offices have been told by state officials to expect vaccine shipments sometime next week, said Rigoberto Vargas, county public health director.
State officials said the My Turn COVID scheduling website will be used for the new vaccines, but the site did not appear to have been updated as of early Wednesday afternoon. They also encouraged people to contact their doctors or local pharmacies.
The vaccines target XBB.1.5, a variant that emerged in the spring, and also appear to offer protection against the even newer Pirola variant. The shots come on line as COVID-19 transmission rises across the nation.
In Ventura County, an average 18% of people taking PCR tests came up positive over seven days, according to state data on Friday, compared to 5% on July 1. Hospitalizations remain low, reflecting illnesses that doctors say bring less severe symptoms than earlier in the pandemic.
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Vargas expects demand for the new vaccine will rise, partly because of the uptick in infections, but said he’s not sure how much. State data shows only about 1 in 5 county residents are up-to-date on their vaccinations.
“As we enter the winter season, it is crucial that all individuals remain up to date with vaccinations when they’re eligible, including flu, COVID-19 and RSV,” said Dr. Tomás Aragón, state public health officer, in a news release.
Flu is beginning to emerge in some Ventura County emergency rooms. An adult vaccine has been approved for respiratory syncytial virus, known as RSV, and is available to people 60 and older with the recommendation they confer with a doctor.
All three shots can be delivered at once but could bring discomfort.
Some doctors recommend people get each vaccine separately.
People with insurance will continue to get the shots for free. Programs aimed at providing free vaccines for people who have no or little insurance, like the federal Bridges Access Program, continue though state officials said supplies may be limited.
Vargas said the approval of the updated COVID-19 vaccines mean sites have stopped administering older lines of vaccines and are waiting for the new shots to arrive.
Tom Kisken covers health care and other news for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at tom.kisken@vcstar.com or 805-437-0255.
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This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: How to get the new COVID-19 vaccine shot in Ventura County
