SAN JOSE — Santa Clara County’s most sensible fitness official suggested citizens Monday get an updated COVID-19 booster shot if they’re eligible to do so as the holiday season approaches.
According to Dr. Sara Cody, fitness employee and director of public fitness, 11% of Santa Clara County citizens received the latest booster shot, which protects against the original COVID strain and two subvariants of the omicron variant.
Last week, the federal government expanded eligibility for the new booster to children ages five to 11, making those over five eligible if at least two months have passed since their last dose of the vaccine.
“Now that almost everyone is eligible, I want to face a factor head-on, and that question is, ‘I really want it?'” said Cody Monday at a briefing at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds. “To conclude, yes You want your bivalent reinforcement, and especially if you are 50 years or older. “
Cody said the slow adoption of the new recall is likely due in part to fatigue around the pandemic, but argued that the threat of severe COVID infection or prolonged COVID can be eased without problems by getting vaccinated.
The vaccine will also help protect others during winter break, he argued, when large teams of other people gather indoors nearby.
“People are tired of dealing with the pandemic and that’s absolutely understandable,” he said. “But what I need to emphasize is that this has to be a habit where we get used to incorporating those COVID protections into our lives. “
Cody also reiterated a point he made earlier in October, that while the number of cases in the county is at an all-time low compared to spring and early summer, the amount of virus waste circulating in county sewers and, by extension, the threat of spreading the virus remains high.
Across the county, adoption of the new retirement is higher among older teams, however, Cody said the county continues to work with local schools and netpainting teams to urge entire families to get retirement when they are eligible.
“Some of the members of your family circle will find COVID to be an inconvenience and some of the members of your family circle will find COVID to be very serious and a threat of death,” he said. “But everyone can get ventajas. de a bivalent memory. “
As of Monday, 87. 4 percent of all county citizens had completed their initial vaccinations. Of the citizens eligible for the booster aged five years or older, 69% received at least one booster dose.
COVID vaccines are available to anyone 6 months of age or older. More information about the newest booster and how to schedule a vaccine appointment can be found on the Santa Clara County COVID website.