SANTA MONICA, CA – Booster vaccinations available at pharmacies and clinics in Santa Monica are the best defense against COVID-19 disease as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus is spreading across the country, according to health officials.
Breakthrough COVID-19 cases of the Omicron variant – infections among those vaccinated – are less common in people who have received their third vaccination, according to the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The variant of Omicron, which was first reported in South Africa on November 24, was discovered in California.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s foremost infectious disease expert, said Friday that the Pfizer and Moderna booster vaccinations worked well against the Omicron variant and that no specific vaccine was required to control it.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the Omicron variant is likely to become the dominant strain of coronavirus in the coming weeks. It currently accounts for 3 percent of new infections.
Public health officials are concerned that vaccination rates – currently 61 percent of eligible Americans are fully vaccinated and only 28 percent have received booster vaccinations – are not enough to stave off a fifth wave of the coronavirus. COVID-19 cases and hospital admissions are on the rise, with around 120,000 new cases and 1,200 deaths reported daily, mostly due to the Delta variant.
Visit the county website to schedule a booster shot in your area.
Here are several places to book a booster shot in Santa Monica:
- Vons 2262-710 Broadway, Santa Monica
- 2505 Santa Monica Boulevard, Santa Monica
- 2509 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica
- 12315 Venice Boulevard, Mar Vista
- 13171 Mindanao Way, Mindanao and the 90 Freeway
- 604 Rose Avenue, Venice
- 255 main street, Venice
- 4700 Inglewood Blvd., Culver City
- Pavilions 2212 – 11030 Jefferson Blvd, Culver City
The CDC says Pfizer and Moderna booster vaccinations both offer increased protection against COVID-19 and help prevent severe symptoms in breakthrough cases.
You can also schedule an appointment in Los Angeles County to get tested before the holidays. Visit the website to make an appointment or find a location for walk-in testing.
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