L.A. County to Begin Offering 3rd “Booster” Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine Saturday to the Immunocompromised

With the newly provided blessing of the federal government, Los Angeles County health officials on Saturday will begin offering third doses of Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for people with severely compromised immune systems.

The Pasadena Public Health Department was still looking into when and how it might follow suit, pending further clinical guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, city spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said Friday evening.

Among those qualifying for the booster shots are organ transplant recipients, people undergoing cancer treatment, HIV patients and people on select “immunosuppressive medications.” The Los Angeles County Public Health Department urged people to consult their doctors to confirm their eligibility for the third shot, which should be administered at least 28 days following the second dose.

The third doses will be offered at vaccination sites in the county offering the Pfizer and Moderna shots. People looking for the shots will be able to simply “self-attest” that they have a qualifying medical condition.

“Studies have shown immunocompromised people are more likely to have post vaccination infection and become severely ill from COVID-19,” county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said. “An additional vaccine dose for some people with weakened immune systems could help prevent serious illness and death.

“If you have a qualifying condition, we encourage you to speak to your healthcare provider about getting a third dose,” she said. “We also encourage those who are close contacts of immunocompromised people to get vaccinated as soon as possible in order to protect their family members and friends who are at higher risk.”

The booster shots received final approval this week from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.