One-hundred thirty-nine new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Humboldt County today. The total number of residents who have tested positive for the virus now stands at 7,308.
Three new hospitalizations were also reported today, including one person in their 50s and two people in their 60s.
As of Monday, Humboldt County Public Health and other approved local vaccinators have administered 146,856 doses of COVID-19 vaccine. A total of 72,502 county residents are now fully vaccinated, representing 53.3% of the entire county population and 60.9% of the eligible population age 12 and older.
Although some people who are fully vaccinated do become infected with the virus, health officials continue to endorse vaccination as the most effective way to prevent severe outcomes from COVID-19.
To build a strong response to the virus, health officials advise immunocompromised individuals who received mRNA vaccine Moderna or Pfizer to get an additional dose of the same vaccine 28 days or more after their second dose. Those who are immunocompromised should talk to their health care provider about whether an additional dose is right for them.
Additional doses are not the same as boosters, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expects to be available this fall, pending further review of data. If authorized, boosters would be given no sooner than eight months after completion of the initial vaccine series. Early recipients would be health care providers, residents of long-term care facilities and seniors who received their second dose early in the vaccine rollout. Boosters of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are likely to be recommended later this year, but CDC states that more data is needed. Policies on boosters are still being discussed at the federal and state levels and have not been approved. Details will be shared as they become available. Learn more at humboldtgov.org/VaccineInfo.
COVID-19 vaccines are available at Public Health clinics. Walk-ins are welcome, or appointments can be made in advance at MyTurn.ca.gov. For instructions in English or Spanish about how to use My Turn, go to humboldtgov.org/VaccineInfo.
See the schedule of upcoming Public Health clinics below:
McKinleyville – Friday, Sept. 3, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Six Rivers Brewery (1300 Central Ave.)
Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson
Samoa – Friday, Sept. 3, from 3:30 to 6 p.m.
Humboldt Bay Social Club (900 New Navy Base Road)
Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson
Eureka – Saturday, Sept. 4, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Wharfinger Building (1 Marina Way)
Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson
Arcata – Thursday, Sept. 9, from noon to 2 p.m.
Arcata Transit Center (925 E St.)
Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson
Trinidad – Thursday, Sept. 9, from 4 to 7 p.m.
Trinidad Town Hall (409 Trinity St.)
Pfizer/Johnson & Johnson
To check availability of a particular vaccine at local pharmacies, visit vaccines.gov, or text a ZIP code to 438829 to locate a pharmacy offering vaccines nearby. Most pharmacies allow walk-ins.
Pfizer is authorized for those 12 and older, and Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are authorized for people age 18 and older. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Full protection from vaccination is achieved two weeks after receiving the second dose of a two-dose series or two weeks after receiving a single-dose vaccine.
The Humboldt County COVID-19 Joint Information Center will be closed Monday, Sept. 6, in observance of Labor Day. Operations will resume Tuesday, Sept. 7, and voicemails will be returned at that time. OptumServe’s COVID-19 testing sites in Eureka and McKinleyville will also be closed Monday.
View the Data Dashboard online at humboldtgov.org/dashboard, or go to humboldtgov.org/DashboardArchives to download data from a previous time.