New Letter from Your DOHC COVID-19 Task Force

Latest Update: October 21, 2021

Starting Monday October 25th, DOHC will begin offering COVID-19 booster doses with mix and match options for all 3 brands at vaccine clinics in:

Palm Springs
Indio
Yucca Valley

MyTurn.CA.GOV will update with the ability to schedule a booster for Moderna and Janssen on 10/25/21 and will update for the ability to mix and match on 10/26/21.

We encourage YOU to schedule an appointment; however, walk-ins will still be allowed. Members of the community can also schedule a booster appointment or walk in.

Please Note:

You must have started and completed the required series of COVID-19 vaccinations (2 Pfizer; 2 Moderna, 1 Janssen J&J) to be eligible to receive a booster dose. We remain committed to encouraging and providing the unvaccinated with an opportunity to start and complete their primary vaccine series.
The guidance for the primary vaccine series has not changed, and while the data continues to grow for the age group of 5-11 year olds, we do not yet have the ability to vaccinate this population.
If you have not already received your 2021 flu shot, you can schedule and receive your flu shot at the same time.

Guidance for Mixing and Matching Boosters:

The same brand used for the primary vaccine series should be used for the booster
- If the same brand is not available or another brand is preferred , boosting is allowed with another authorized COVID-19 vaccine brand
Mixing of brands is only allowed for booster doses not the primary vaccine series
- All doses of the primary series and additional doses (if indicated for moderately to severely immunocompromised people) should use the same brand
The time between primary series completion and the booster dose is determined by the brand used for the primary series (please see the below grid)
- Those who received a single dose of Janssen can receive either another dose of Janssen or the appropriate booster dose of Moderna or Pfizer 2 months after series completion
- Those who received a complete series of Moderna or Pfizer can received the appropriate booster dose of Moderna, Pfizer, or Janssen 6 months after series completion
An individual risk-benefit decision with the help of a clinician may help determine the brand to use
- Brand availability
- Risk of vaccine brand based upon rare events

September 23, 2021

An Update from Desert Oasis HealthCare Taskforce:

COVID-19 BOOSTER INFO

Is there an age limit to who can get the additional dose of booster vaccine dose?

For additional doses for people who are immunocompromised, the age limit is 12+ for Pfizer and 18+ for Moderna
A booster dose has only been approved for people who have received the original series of the Pfizer vaccine.

Who is eligible for a booster vaccine dose?

Anyone who received a 2 dose series of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months ago who also meets the below criteria:
Over 65 years of age
Lives in a Long Term Care Facility (LTCF)
18-64 years of age with an underlying condition (link to the extensive list of who this includes)

What is the difference between the regular vaccine, an additional dose or a booster?

There are 3 approved vaccines: Pfizer/Comirnaty (2 doses); Moderna (2 doses); and J&J (1 dose). Getting any of these series of initial doses are required prior to any further additional or booster shots.
An additional vaccine dose is given when someone’s immune response is potentially not strong enough to protect them after the first two initial doses. People eligible for an additional dose: immunocompromised individuals
A booster dose is a third dose of the same vaccine of the original series for the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. The booster dose of the COVID vaccine is for a sufficient immune system, but the vaccine’s efficacy has likely lessened over time.

Why do I need an additional dose or a booster?

Our number one tool against the COVID virus has proven to be effective vaccines.

People with compromised immune sytems are recommended to get an additional dose now to increase the effectiveness of the vaccine.

For the general public, the vaccine lessens the chances to get COVID-19. In addition, if a vaccinated person does contract COVID-19, they experience less severe symptoms, lower the chance for hospitalization, or even death from COVID-19. The FDA and CDC have determined that a booster dose will help increase the vaccines ability to protect against the virus and have allowed certain groups to get a booster dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

Is the additional or booster dose of the vaccine different than the original shot I received?

No change has been made to the original vaccines at this time. The additional or booster dose is a third shot of the same vaccine. At this time, only people who received the Pfizer (now Comirnaty) are recommended to get a booster dose.

No recommnedation for boosters has been made for Moderna or J&J. We expect the FDA to approve a booster or additional dose for Moderna and the J&J vaccines within a few weeks.

What vaccine additional or booster shot should I get?

You should get a third shot of the same vaccine you received in the first series. If you received Pfizer – then a Pfizer booster. No booster has been recommended for Moderna or Janssen J&J vaccines however that information should be forthcoming within a few weeks.

PLEASE BRING YOUR VACCINE CARD TO BE UPDATED when you go for your additional or booster shot. This will also allow the site where you go for the shot to verify and give you the third shot of the same vaccine.

People who received a Moderna or J&J vaccine are not recommended to get the additional or booster shot at this time.

Is there a cost for the additional or booster shot?

NO. There is no cost to you for the additional or booster shots.

Where can I get the recommended additional or booster shot of the vaccine?

DOHC and many of the existing COVID vaccine sites continue to provide the original series of the vaccine as well as the recommended additional or booster shots.

To schedule an appointment at one of the DOHC vaccine clinic sites, visit MYTURN.CA.GOV and select a date and time for your appointment. You can find the link to MYTURN on our website at MYDOHC.COM
DOHC vaccine clinic appointments are offered in Palm Springs, Indio and Yucca Valley.
If one of the DOHC clinics is not convenient, many other vaccine locations are offered on the MYTURN.CA.GOV site

When should I get my additional or booster shot?

If you are immunocompromised, it is recommended that you get the additional dose of either the Pfizer/Comirnaty or Moderna shot now.
If you have not yet started the series of any of the 3 vaccines, you must get the first 2 doses of the Pfizer/Comirnaty or Moderna vaccine. The additional dose is a third dose of the same vaccine given at least 28 days after the second dose in the series.
For the remainder of the general population the recommendation is to get the third dose of the Pfizer/Comirnaty vaccine 6 months after completing the original 2 dose series of Pfizer. The effectiveness of the vaccines lessens over time, so getting the third dose too soon may not add the benefit of “boostering” the vaccine in your immune system.
In general, the priority for getting the booster shots will follow the same original priority based on risk: age, occupation, etc. Here is a general rule of thumb for timing of when to get your booster shot:

Guide for 6-months after completing original series NOTE: immunocompromised should get an additional shot now.

Month Completed Original Series	Month to get Booster
December, January, February, March	September -October
April, May	November
June	December
July	January
August	February
September	March

CDC Booster Info

If you or someone you know has questions about receiving the available vaccines, please contact us through the DOHC Vaccine Hotline: 760-808-8400.

Thank you for your continued efforts to care for your own, your family’s, and the community’s health!

This is how we end a pandemic!

Need Help or Have Questions? Call our DOHC Helpline: 760-969-6555.

Remember, should you have any questions, please contact DOHC or visit our website for information at MyDOHC.com.