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Case Rates & Hospitalizations
The County reported a case rate this week of 20.7 new daily cases per 100,000 (up slightly from 19.9), a test positivity rate of 6.3 percent (up slightly from 6.1), an equity metric positivity rate of 7.4 percent (down slightly from 8.1) and as of Tuesday, 81 COVID patients were in Sonoma County hospitals. This included more than 16 in ICU beds.
The county on Tuesday reported three COVID-related deaths, and another two on Wednesday. The county now has reported 14 COVID-related deaths in August after 16 in July. For comparison, the county reported just one COVID-related death in May and four in June.
All but eight of the 349 COVID-19 deaths that have occurred in the county have been among unvaccinated residents and a growing number of the deaths are unvaccinated younger residents, a trend that worries county health officials. County health officials continue to encourage all eligible residents to get vaccinated to avoid the worst outcomes of this disease.
FDA grants full approval of Pfizer vaccine
The Food and Drug Administration on Monday granted full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine for people 16 and older, making it the first vaccine to move beyond emergency use status in the United States. The Pfizer vaccine is offered at all Sonoma Valley vaccine clinics listed below. The vaccine will continue to be authorized for emergency use for children ages 12 to 15 while Pfizer collects the data required for full approval.
As of this week, 73 percent of the County’s 12 and older population is now fully vaccinated, while 81 percent have received at least one dose. Vaccine appointments are plentiful, and anyone 12 years or older who wants one can get an appointment at one of the many clinics, pharmacies or health centers in the County — often the same day. Many are also accepting walk-in patients. Just go to MyTurn.ca.gov to find an appointment that works for you and find a list of local clinics on the Sonoma Valley Health Partner Website.
This Week’s Vaccine Clinics in Sonoma Valley:
- Saturday, August 2, 18th, 2 – 3 pm at Sonoma Valley Community Health Center, 19270 Sonoma Hwy, Sonoma CA 95476. Walk-ins welcome. For questions call (707) 939-6070
- Wednesday, September 1st, 10 am – 1 pm at Springs Community Hall, 18627 Sonoma Highway, Boyes Hot Springs CA 95476. Walk-ins welcome. J&J (one-shot) and Pfizer. For questions call (707) 939-6070
- Wednesday, September 1st, 3:30 – 6:30 pm at Sonoma Valley Community Health Center, 19270 Sonoma Hwy, Sonoma CA 95476. Walk-ins welcome. For questions call (707) 939-6070
- Thursday, September 2nd, 4 -7 pm at La Luz Center, 17560 Greger St., Sonoma CA 95476. Walk-ins welcome. For questions call (707) 939-6070
- Saturday, September 4th, 12 – 3 pm Sonoma Valley Community Health Center, 19270 Sonoma Hwy, Sonoma CA 95476. Walk-ins welcome. For questions call (707) 939-6070
Testing opportunities
Find testing locations and make an appointment on the County’s testing page or call the hotline at 707-565-4667. The hotline is available to help residents sort through their many testing options in Spanish and English.
This Week’s Pop-Up Testing in Sonoma Valley:
- Sunday, August 28th, 8 am – 2 pm, Boyes Hot Springs Park and Ride at Hwy.12 & Thompson Ave., Boyes Hot Springs, Walk-ins are limited due to high demand. To make an appointment: Visit the Curative website or call (888) 702-9042.
- Monday – Friday, 8 am – 2 pm at the Fiesta Plaza 18615 Sonoma Hwy., Sonoma, Walk-ins are limited due to high demand. To make an appointment: Visit the Curative website or call (888) 702-9042.
- Sunday, September 4th, 8 am – 2 pm, Boyes Hot Springs Park and Ride at Hwy.12 & Thompson Ave., Boyes Hot Springs, Walk-ins are limited due to high demand. To make an appointment: Visit the Curative website or call (888) 702-9042.
Third doses of vaccine recommended for immunocompromised
Third doses of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines have been authorized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for patients who are moderately or severely immunocompromised. For this group, these are additional doses, not booster shots. This additional dose intended to improve immunocompromised people’s response to their initial vaccine series is not the same as a booster dose, which is given to people when the immune response to a primary vaccine series is likely to have waned over time.
Residents who qualify for a third dose are encouraged to contact their primary care physicians to arrange with their doctor to get the third shot of vaccination or go to MyTurn.ca.gov to make an appointment. At this time, people should not show up at a vaccine clinic and expect to receive a third dose.
Update on Pfizer and Moderna booster shots
Last week, the Biden administration announced that they plan to begin rolling out Pfizer and Moderna booster shots, starting in late September. Some people will be eligible to get a booster shot eight months after receiving their second doses. Before Americans can begin to receive boosters, the FDA must first authorize the third dose of vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna, and a CDC advisory committee must review the evidence and make recommendations.
It is expected that Johnson & Johnson vaccine recipients will also require an additional dose. Johnson & Johnson reported this week that a booster shot of its vaccine dramatically raises the levels of antibodies against the coronavirus. The company will submit the data to the FDA.