Boosters Available for Eligible Patients

A committee of the Federal Drug Administration has voted unanimously to recommend Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for people 65 years and older, as well as for those with high risk factors. This recommendation is still pending final CDC approval, however as advertised last week, Ridgecrest Regional Hospital will begin to reach out to patients ages 65 and older eligible for the Pfizer booster, scheduling them for appointments for a drive through clinic in October.

“While ability to vaccinate is dependent on receiving CDC approval, we expect to receive that, said Michelle Whalley, Rural Health Clinic Administrator and Vaccine Task Force Leader. “We have taken delivery of vaccine and want to be able to move forward quickly.”

FDA panelists acknowledged that data show that the protection conferred to the vaccinated is waning over time, but argued the overwhelming number of vaccinated people have sufficient protection at this time to cope with any infection without requiring hospitalization or risking death.

RRH is still awaiting guidance on who which individuals will qualify as “high risk” and will continue to update the community as more information is released.

Click here for last week’s announcement about the booster.