Dear Constituent:
There is a lot to be thankful for this holiday season. Although we have endured nearly two years of pandemic, there are bright spots: California, and especially the Bay Area, has among the highest vaccination rates in the country, our schools are open, COVID cases among our children remain low and best of all, we all know the best practices to stay safe and minimize COVID spread.
That's why I'm writing now. With the colder weather drawing us indoors and with more holiday gatherings, COVID cases are on the rise. The best protection for ourselves, our family members and our friends are these simple actions:
- Get your Vaccination Boosted
- Mask whenever you are indoors in public
- Keep your gatherings small. And if a large gathering is unavoidable, get everyone tested.
In the few weeks since Thanksgiving, COVID cases in California rose 47%. Due to the increase in COVID cases, the California Department of Public Health is now asking everyone to be masked, regardless of vaccination status, when we are in an indoor, public space (new state mandate).
Masking is also an important precaution against, Omicron, the new COVID variant that is starting to spread here and across the globe. While scientists and public health experts don't yet know whether Omicron is more dangerous, what they do know is Omicron, like the Delta variant, is highly contagious and spreads quickly.
During the past week, my staff spoke at length with three highly respected Bay Area public health experts: Dr. Robert (Bob) Wachter of UC San Francisco Department of Medicine; Dr. John Swartzberg of UC Berkeley School of Public Health; and Dr. William Walker of Contra Costa Health Services.
All three agreed that although the Bay Area has not yet experienced widespread transmission of the Omicron variant, an outbreak could happen here within the next month. But what these experts really emphasized is we should stay focused on the Delta variant: It is here now, it is highly contagious, and it is the variant infecting most people and causing the current rise in COVID cases.
"Everyone is talking about Omicron, but the guerilla in the room is Delta," Dr. Swartzberg told us.
Fortunately, COVID vaccines are highly effective at protecting against serious illness and hospitalization. But there is evidence that the vaccines' effectiveness wanes over time. So, if six months has passed since your last shot, Get Boosted!
Recent research shows that getting a COVID booster can improve your immune response significantly, helping prevent illness and absolutely reducing the chance you'll be hospitalized or have serious complications.
Although it is too early to tell whether current vaccines are less effective against Omicron, there is some early research indicating that booster shots can ward off serious illness and hospitalizations even from Omicron.
Here are recommendations on boosters from Bay Area public health experts:
- If you are age 16 and above, were vaccinated with either Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, and your second shot was six months ago or more (mid-June or before), get your booster ASAP.
- If you received a J & J vaccine, you can get your booster two months after your last shot.
- Mix and match vaccines are just fine. If you originally got Moderna, it's OK to now get Pfizer, and vice versa.
- And if you originally received a J & J vaccine, it's better to get a Pfizer or Moderna booster, because they are different types of vaccines from J & J and have shown to better boost immunity.
- If you already were sick with COVID and have recovered, you should still get vaccinated, with at least one shot.
To schedule a COVID vaccine or booster, as well as a flu shot, contact your health care provider, your local community clinic, or check the state's vaccine website, MyTurn.ca.gov. My Turn also has a list of walk-in vaccine clinics in your area.
For your holiday gatherings:
- Wear a mask indoors in accordance with the new state mandate.
- Make sure everyone is vaccinated and boosted, AND get your kids, 5-11, vaccinated.
- If there will be kids under age 5 or vulnerable adults at the gathering, it's smart for all attendees to get a PCR test a day or two in advance or take a rapid test that can be administered at home the day of before the gathering.
Wishing you safe, healthy and happy holidays!
Sincerely,
Nancy Skinner
State Senator, District 9
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