Joint Statement on Western States Support for Expanded Eligibility of Second Booster Doses

SACRAMENTO – Today, California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly, and Director of the California Department of Public Health and State Public Health Officer Dr. Tomás J. Aragón, issued a joint statement on the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup’s support for expanded eligibility of second booster doses of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA COVID-19 vaccines for individuals 50 years of age and older, as well as booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for individuals 12 years of age and older or the Moderna vaccine for individuals 18 years and older with moderate and severe immunosuppression.

“Getting this additional booster is the best way to strengthen your protection against COVID-19. The additional Pfizer or Moderna booster dose for anyone who received a Johnson & Johnson booster, certain immunocompromised individuals, and people aged 50 and up will help protect our communities and continue to move the state forward. As outlined in Governor Newsom’s SMARTER Plan, California has maintained the operational readiness and flexibility to distribute and administer vaccines and boosters. Therefore, the state is prepared to immediately distribute and administer additional boosters to eligible Californians.”