California Today
Explaining the confusing guidance astir the other shots.
Sept. 27, 2021, 8:51 a.m. ET
There has been plentifulness of confusing guidance implicit the past 18 months arsenic we person lived alongside the coronavirus, including shifting recommendations astir look masks and the archetypal patchwork rollout of vaccines.
But peculiarly deserving of admittance into the pantheon of mixed messages is the caller treatment astir booster shots. Over the past respective weeks, determination has been tremendous back-and-forth astir who astir needs an other dose of a coronavirus vaccine, erstwhile we should get 1 and whether it’s a bully thought for anyone astatine all.
The statement has divided the technological community, possibly much than immoderate different contented during the pandemic. After a flurry of conflicting recommendations precocious past week, here’s wherever things basal now:
A Pfizer-BioNTech booster has been approved for seniors arsenic good arsenic radical astatine accrued hazard of contracting Covid-19 oregon experiencing terrible disease. People are eligible for a booster starting six months aft their 2nd Pfizer changeable — and galore began receiving them connected Friday.
In California, much than 23 cardinal radical are afloat vaccinated, and a small much than fractional received the Pfizer vaccine (though not each are allowed a booster). Anyone who is eligible tin marque an assignment connected the state’s website.
People who got Moderna oregon Johnson & Johnson aren’t presently capable to get a booster dose. Below, I’m providing much details based connected which vaccine you received and your hazard levels:
If you got Moderna oregon Johnson & Johnson
You’re not yet eligible for different changeable (unless you received Moderna and are immunocompromised — spot below).
However, it’s imaginable that the Food and Drug Administration could authorize a Moderna oregon Johnson & Johnson booster successful the coming days or weeks. Some experts person supported mixing and matching vaccine doses, though nothing has been authorized yet.
If you’re immunocompromised
Americans who person received coagulated organ transplants and others with likewise compromised immune systems person been eligible since mid-August to person a 3rd dose of Pfizer-BioNTech oregon Moderna vaccines.
In California, astir 260,000 of these 3rd doses person been administered truthful far, according to authorities data.
If you got Pfizer-BioNTech and are …
65 and older oregon unrecorded successful a nursing home
You’re eligible for a booster changeable if your past dose was much than six months ago.
The C.D.C. broke down its booster recommendations into 2 groups — radical who should get the changeable and radical who can, “based connected their idiosyncratic benefits and risks.” This older colonisation falls into the archetypal category, due to the fact that the information astir waning immunity is astir compelling for seniors.
For radical 65 and older, the effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine successful preventing hospitalization dropped from 86 percent successful the archetypal 5 months to 73 percent successful the adjacent three, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported connected Wednesday.
There was a 9 percent constituent driblet successful the shots’ effectiveness for radical 50 to 64 and nary simplification among younger adults, the information shows.
between 18 and 64 and precocious hazard for terrible Covid-19 oregon a frontline worker
You’re eligible for a booster changeable if your past dose was much than six months ago.
This radical includes radical with a broad scope of conditions, including cancer, chronic kidney illness and obesity, arsenic good arsenic teachers, wellness attraction workers oregon radical who person jobs that summation their vulnerability to Covid-19.
But not everyone successful this class is astatine adjacent risk.
Federal officials recommend that radical with underlying aesculapian conditions who are 50 and older should get a booster shot, portion they accidental that those betwixt 18 and 49 tin get a booster if they consciousness it’s close for them.
The guidance is stronger for the older colonisation due to the fact that there’s grounds the vaccine loses spot much rapidly among these groups.
none of the above
You aren’t eligible for a booster yet. This means that, astatine the moment, determination isn’t a batch of information showing that the benefits of a booster would outweigh the risks.
Of course, that’s taxable to change.
For more:
Track the vaccine rollout successful your county.
These wellness attraction workers would alternatively get fired than get vaccinated.
The Times’s editorial committee weighs successful connected booster debate: “This is nary mode to end a pandemic.”
If you work 1 story, marque it this
With termination mostly banned successful Texas, a session successful Oklahoma has go inundated with patients.
The remainder of the news
PG&E transgression charges: Prosecutors successful Northern California filed transgression charges against Pacific Gas & Electric connected Friday successful transportation with the deaths of 4 radical past twelvemonth successful a wildfire that was linked to the utility’s equipment.
Helicopters: New, high-tech helicopters are the newest instrumentality for warring wildfires successful California, CBS reports.
Zero-emission vehicles: Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a measure requiring each light-duty autonomous vehicles statewide to emit zero emissions, according to TechCrunch.
Immigration law: Newsom signed a measure connected Friday eliminating the usage of the connection “alien” successful migration instrumentality and moving to usage “noncitizen” instead, reports The Sacramento Bee.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Coronavirus cases: Public wellness officials person identified 211 coronavirus outbreaks astatine constabulary oregon occurrence agencies passim Los Angeles County since the pandemic began, according to The Los Angeles Times.
Copyright claims: The Walt Disney Company connected Friday filed a flurry of lawsuits seeking to invalidate copyright-termination notices served by artists and illustrators progressive with marquee characters similar Iron Man, Spider-Man and Thor.
Obituary: Jay Sandrich, a prolific sitcom manager who won Emmy Awards for the 2 bid helium worked connected astir often, “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “The Cosby Show,” died connected Wednesday astatine his home successful Los Angeles.
Pastor sentenced: A erstwhile Westminster pastor who pleaded blameworthy to message and taxation fraud has been sentenced to 14 years successful prison, according to The Associated Press.
Wildfire location insurance: A moratorium ensuring location security for policyholders adjacent to wildfires expired Saturday, leaving millions of homes susceptible to losing protection, Bloomberg reports.
Air prime warning: An aerial prime advisory was issued for Monday for parts of Southern California due to the fact that of drifting wildfire smoke, according to The San Bernardino Sun.
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
Hazardous air: Toxic aerial successful Bakersfield has led to an uptick successful patients with respiratory problems, according to The Bakersfield Californian.
California Aqueduct project: A caller large vigor retention task has been projected on the California Aqueduct successful Kern County, The Bakersfield Californian reports.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Fawn fire: Lighter winds and cooler temperatures implicit the play helped firefighters incorporate the Fawn fire, which has destroyed much than 100 buildings adjacent Shasta Lake, The Associated Press reports.
Plus, a pistillate from Palo Alto was charged with arson successful transportation with the wildfire.
Vaccine exemption denied: The N.B.A. has denied the petition of Golden State’s Andrew Wiggins for a spiritual exemption from the coronavirus vaccine, which is required successful San Francisco to be large indoor events.
Cannabis astatine authorities fair: After being canceled 2 years successful a enactment due to the fact that of the pandemic, the authorities just successful Sacramento is slated to hap successful 2022, Sacramento CBS Local reports. And there’s a caller state-grown merchandise that’s going to beryllium judged: marijuana.
What we’re eating
Five of the champion speedy meal recipes.
Where we’re traveling
Today’s question extremity comes from DonnaLynn Gingeresky, a scholar who lives successful Atascadero. DonnaLynn visited Death Valley National Park this summer:
“It is isolated and barren and it feels otherworldly. It is quiescent and peaceful successful these earthy surroundings. The nighttime entity and stars were amazing.”
Tell america astir your favourite places to sojourn successful California. Email your suggestions to CAtoday@nytimes.com. We’ll beryllium sharing much successful upcoming editions of the newsletter.
And earlier you go, immoderate bully news
Over the past fewer months, a antheral and his 9-year-old girl person been driving from Denver to Northern California to supply R.V.s to radical who mislaid their homes successful wildfires.
“It’s radical helping people,” the antheral told The Associated Press.
Thanks for reading. I’ll beryllium backmost tomorrow. — Soumya
P.S. Here’s today’s Mini Crossword, and a clue: Long play of past (5 letters).
Briana Scalia and Mariel Wamsley contributed to California Today. You tin scope the squad astatine CAtoday@nytimes.com.
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