Only 30% of vaccinated have gotten a booster. Will a fourth shot soon be necessary?
Drug makers Pfizer and Moderna are looking to get authorization for another booster shot of their Covid vaccines, but most people haven't gotten their first booster yet.
"Indeed, it may be necessary for some part of the population to have a yet another booster – a fourth shot, in many cases," said Dr. Alan Williamson with Eisenhower Health.
Pfizer is asking the FDA to authorize a fourth dose for people older than 65. Moderna wants authorization for 18-year-olds and older.
But it's a step some are saying isn't yet necessary, especially when most haven't even gotten their third shot yet.
In Riverside County, 60 percent of people are vaccinated with two doses. Only 31 percent have gotten three shots.
"If we could really get everybody out there that is eligible and get their booster, the first booster if you will, out of the way – that would really bump immunity up a lot," Williamson said.
At the vaccine clinic at Desert Oasis Healthcare in Palm Springs, vaccinations are down – a somewhat concerning signal to officials there as Omicron subvariant BA.2 is fueling surges overseas.
"What we're really noticing is that we're continuing to see a decline in those that are coming in to get their boosters," said Director of Nursing Jessica Voigt. "It's to boost your immune system, and really help prevent us from going into another wave, which I think we can all agree we don't want to go into that other wave."
Desert Oasis Healthcare is switching strategies with the emergence of Covid-19 preventions and treatments.
"They work very well," said Lindsey Valenzuela, associate VP of population health integration at Desert Oasis Healthcare. "The goal with those medications is to reduce the length of your illness, reduce the seriousness and severity, and hopefully avoid a hospitalization."
Williamson said the bottom line is to get up to speed on vaccinations to continue winning the fight against Covid-19.
"It's not time to declare victory just yet," he said. "We really need to be sure, get out there and get the booster done."
