Community COVID-19 Update
Who Should Get the Booster Shot?
Dear Neighbors,
In our ongoing efforts to protect our community against the pandemic, we are pleased to share that Clinica Medica Familiar will begin offering booster shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine which is available now. For information about appointments please call our Montebello location at (323) 712-4811, our Ontario location at (909) 988-3288, or our Rialto location at (909) 877-8868
As a reminder, the FDA has advised that people 65 and older, as well as residents in long-term care settings, should receive a booster shot of the Pfizer vaccine at least six months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series. This only applies to people who received the Pfizer vaccine. The FDA is expected to make a recommendation regarding the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines soon.
The FDA also advises that people aged 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot at least six months after their primary Pfizer series.
Who may also get the shot?
People age 18–49 years with underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot at least six months after their primary Pfizer series, based on their individual benefits and risks.
Similarly, individuals aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission due to their jobs or institutional settings may receive a booster shot at least six months after their primary Pfizer series.
What about a third dose?
People with weakened immune systems who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines continue to be eligible for a third shot at least four weeks after their second dose. This is not considered a booster. Instead, it is part of the recommended immunization schedule for people whose compromised immune systems inhibit them from generating a robust immune response after just two shots. Talk with your doctor if you suspect this applies to you.
From the beginning, our incredible medical staff has worked tirelessly to identify, research, treat and protect our community against COVID-19. We applaud their continued dedication, professionalism, and expertise.
We also commend all of you, our community members who have rolled up your sleeves to receive the vaccine and slow the spread of the disease. You have tamped down California’s transmission rates to the lowest in the country.
If you have not yet received your first dose of the vaccine, please don’t delay. As this pandemic continues to wax and wane, we urge everyone to maintain vigilance. We now have the tools to fight this disease readily available to us. It is up to each of us to make use of them and to put this chapter of our lives behind us.
Thank you for your continued support,
Ruben Ruiz, M.D.
Founder and CEO