Los Angeles County Prepared to Administer Pfizer Booster

32 New Deaths and 1,900 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County is prepared to administer Pfizer booster third doses once the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finalizes eligibility.

Yesterday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended providing third booster doses of Pfizer vaccine to a subset of people at least six months after the second of the two-dose Pfizer vaccine series, including adults 65 and over, adults younger than 65 at high risk of severe illness, and people 18 to 64 with high institutional or occupational risk. The FDA did not recommend boosters for people below the age of 18 or for people who received doses of other vaccines.

Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met and voted third booster doses should be administered at least six months after the last dose of the two-dose Pfizer series in adults 65 and over, residents of long-term care facilities, people 50 to 64 years old with underlying medical conditions, and people 18 to 49 years old with underlying medical conditions, based on individual benefit and risk.

Once the CDC director provides their recommendation, the County will work with the State and local partners to ensure that those eligible for boosters under the FDA emergency use authorization are able to get their third dose while prioritizing reaching those at most risk, including those not yet vaccinated.

We expect the CDC director to consider the ACIP’s input and make an agency recommendation in the coming days.

In L.A. County, slightly over 1 million individuals received two doses of Pfizer prior to April 1; 420,000 of these individuals were 65 years old and older, and many others were healthcare workers and people with severe risk for serious illness from COVID-19.

The easiest way to plan for your booster is to make an appointment at one of the hundreds of sites that offer Pfizer vaccines. You will be able to make an appointment for a booster using the MyTurn system starting tomorrow or by making an appointment at a pharmacy or clinic that offers vaccinations.

There are also many places that don’t require appointments. Visit www.VaccinateLACounty.com to find a community location near you where you can walk in and get your booster. All you will need to bring with you to get your booster dose is proof that you have received two previous Pfizer doses, which for most people will be in the form of the white vaccination card, or a photo of the white card, or a digital record of your two doses. At many sites you may be asked to sign an attestation form indicating you meet the criteria to receive the shot. If you need a ride to get your vaccination, you can reach out to the Public Health call center at 1-833-540-0473 and you will be connected to free transportation.

If you are in an eligible group but received vaccines other than the Pfizer vaccine, you will need to wait until the FDA reviews the data about the need for and safety of Moderna and Johnson & Johnson boosters.

Today at 6:00 p.m., Public Health will host a Virtual Town Hall on COVID-19. Join the town hall to get the latest updates on COVID-19 and information about booster doses. The town hall will be streamed live on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube @lapublichealth. For more information and to submit a question, visit: TinyURL.com/LACOVIDTownHall

Today, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) confirms 32 new deaths and 1,900 new cases of COVID-19. Of the 32 new deaths reported today, seven people who passed away were over the age of 80, 13 people who died were between the ages of 65 and 79, and 11 people who died were between the ages of 50 and 64. One death was reported by the City of Long Beach. To date, Public Health identified 1,449,923 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 25,942 deaths.

There are 991 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 31% of these people are in the ICU. This is the first time daily hospitalizations dropped under 1,000 since late-July.

Testing results are available for nearly 8,530,000 individuals with 16% of people testing positive. Today’s test positivity rate is 1.5%.

“We extend our deepest condolences to everyone who is grieving the loss of a loved one, a friend, or a co-worker and are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “We appreciate the thorough review of the emerging science by the FDA and CDC and are prepared to ensure that it is as easy as possible for eligible residents and workers to receive their booster dose. Our pandemic history has told us that we make our best progress when we actively take steps to reduce the spread of this virus. Let’s use the tools we have to effectively reduce the risk of transmission and keep each other healthy and safe.”

L.A. County continues to offer vaccines at more than 1,300 sites countywide and through the deployment of more than 400 mobile vaccination teams each week to make it as easy as possible for eligible L.A. County residents to get vaccinated.

Many vaccination sites across the county, including all County-run sites, are also offering third doses of vaccine to eligible immunocompromised people. Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status.

To find a vaccination site near you, make an appointment at vaccination sites, and much more, visit: www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) and www.VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish).  If you don’t have internet access, can’t use a computer, or you’re over 65, you can call 1-833-540-0473 for help finding an appointment, connecting to free transportation to and from a vaccination site, or scheduling a home-visit if you are homebound.

COVID-19 Sector Protocols, Best Practices, COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard, COVID-19 Surveillance Interactive Dashboard, Recovery Dashboard, and additional actions you can take to protect yourself, your family and your community are on the Public Health website, www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.

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