COVID-19 boosters available to anyone 5 and older

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With the recent federal approval of COVID-19 booster shots for younger children, anyone 5 and older is now eligible to receive a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week granted emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech booster for 5- to 11-year-olds who have waited at least five months since their second vaccine dose. The pediatric vaccine is one-third of the dose given to adolescents and adults.

In Sonoma County, anyone eligible for a booster shot can receive one wherever COVID-19 vaccines are administered, including primary health care providers, pharmacies and clinics. Most providers accept walk-in patients. A list of vaccine providers can be found at SoCoEmergency.org/vaccine. Appointments for boosters for 5- to 11-year-olds can be made through MyTurn.ca.gov starting May 25.

To date, roughly 15,500 Sonoma County residents 5 to 11 years old, or 42 percent of the roughly 37,000 in that age group, have been fully vaccinated and are eligible to receive boosters.

Booster doses have previously been approved for anyone 12 and older. Anyone 18 and older has the option of receiving a Moderna booster dose. Those who received a dose of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine are eligible to receive a booster of either the Pfizer or the Moderna vaccine.

Sonoma County has administered a total of 237,984 booster doses, which is equivalent to 66 percent of the eligible 12 and older population.

COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters, are free and available regardless of citizenship status or health insurance. Booster shots are safe and effective at preventing severe outcomes from COVID-19.