Nearly half of eligible Sonoma County residents age 65 and up have received a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to data from the county’s Department of Health Services.
According to county data, 45.4 percent of eligible residents age 65 and over have received a booster dose. In total, 60,481 adults in the county have received a booster, equal to less than 20 percent of fully vaccinated adults.
Booster doses are available and encouraged for all adults who received their second mRNA vaccine dose more than six months ago or their single Johnson & Johnson vaccine dose more than two months ago.
J&J vaccine recipients are among those who are being prioritized for boosters, along with people over 65 and those who have underlying medical conditions.
While the three available vaccines remain highly effective at preventing serious COVID-19 illness and death, public health officials at all levels have argued that their protection begins to wane after more than six months, and that preemptively boosting the immune responses will maximize protection against existing and potential variants of the virus, which could become more contagious and even circumvent vaccine protections.
In Sonoma County, 73 percent of residents age 5 and up have been fully vaccinated. Another 7 percent have received at least one dose, according to county data.
Eligible county residents can make a vaccination appointment by calling (707) 565-4667 or visiting https://socoemergency.org/emergency/novel-coronavirus/vaccine-information/clinics.
Walk-up appointments are also available at most clinics and pharmacies, according to county officials.