Last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized a third COVID-19 shot for Americans who are moderately to severely immunocompromised due to a variety of treatments and/or diseases. They include cancer patients, organ transplant recipients, and people living with HIV, among others. The third shot would occur after an individual has already received the standard two dose COVID-19 vaccines approved by the FDA for emergency use authorization.
The FDA approved vaccines have been effective against contracting the novel Coronavirus and they are still considered rather effective against the Delta variant. However, fully vaccinated people are contracting the Delta variant called “breakthrough cases” and spreading the virus at rates similar to unvaccinated persons. The big difference between the groups is that unvaccinated people are being hospitalized and dying of the disease at significantly higher rates than vaccinated Americans. Some studies show that nearly 98% of all hospitalized patients and 99% of all COVID-19 related deaths are now from unvaccinated individuals. In response, the CDC has recommended and the City of Cathedral City has passed an Emergency Order requiring face masks to be worn indoors at all public places regardless of vaccination status as a method to slow the spread.
It is believed that the FDA will soon authorize a third shoot (some call a booster shot) for all Americans starting this fall to further strengthen a person’s immune system against this deadly disease that has already taken the lives of more than 638,000 Americans since the start of the pandemic.  The third shot would be given after eight months from receiving the first two doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. Since healthcare workers and seniors were among the first group to receive the initial vaccines, they would also be the first groups to receive the third shot.
Starting September 1, 2021, the City of Cathedral City will require restaurants and bars to verify vaccination status for those patrons who want to eat or drink indoors.
To keep up-to-date with the latest COVID-19 numbers and vaccine information, go to https://www.rivcoph.org/coronavirus.
