People 65+ can now sign-up for Pfizer booster shots

Booster shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine have been approved for certain populations, the Tuolumne County Public Health Department said Friday, primarily those who are age 65 and older and those at higher risk.

Pfizer is the only vaccine approved for booster shots at this time. They are intended only for those who completed their Pfizer vaccination series at least six months earlier, the department said.

Local health authorities are sharing federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for the Pfizer-BioNTech booster shots:

• People 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their Pfizer-BioNTech’s primary series.

• People ages 50 to 64 with underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series.

• People ages 18 to 49 with underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-biontech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.

• People ages 18 to 64 who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.

The county Public Health Department says upcoming clinics and appointments can be accessed at Myturn: https://my-turn.ca.gov/ or by calling (833) 422-4255. Some pharmacies and health care providers are also providing vaccinations.

COVID-19 had contributed to the deaths of 100 individuals in the county as of Friday morning. That total included 29 coronavirus deaths since Aug. 1, when the total was 71, with individuals in their 20s, 30s, and 40s among the recently deceased.

Two of 100 county residents who have died from the virus were fully vaccinated, while the rest were unvaccinated.