The San Francisco Department of Public Health has announced that residents who received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine and got a booster shot are now eligible for a third dose.
The city health officials advised people to get the Pfizer/BioNTech for their third shot, regardless of the brand of vaccine they received for their booster shot. This is due to the Pfizer shot being the only COVID-19 vaccine that has been fully FDA approved. Those receiving their third dose should wait five months after receiving their second shot.
Recent studies show that a third COVID-19 vaccine is necessary to boost antibodies and reduce symptoms, hospitalizations and severe complications caused by the omicron variant, health officials said.
San Francisco's decision comes before a federal recommendation of a third shot. This decision is similar to the city's approach in August when they allowed J&J recipients to get a booster shot before the CDC's official recommendation.
City-run clinics and health centers are now equipped to provide the third dose. Residents are advised to talk to a healthcare provider before scheduling a third dose appointment, as they will need to self-attest that they have consulted with a provider, according to the release.
Related
