Y COVID-19 Vaccine Partnership

Y-USA has partnered with both the National League of Cities and the CDC Foundation to provide training and technical assistance to local Ys and their partners, to help source or develop culturally appropriate vaccine education collateral, and to collect learnings from local activities and experiences for larger dissemination throughout the Y and other networks.

Updated November 15, 2021

Protecting Your Family and Community Through Vaccinations Today!

Our YMCA is committed to keeping you up to date on the most important news and information about COVID-19 vaccines. As this virus continues to impact our community, vaccines are the most important tool to end the pandemic. YMCAs across California are working in partnership with the California Department of Public Health to end the pandemic by helping individuals and families learn about and get access to vaccines.

We want to let you know that all family members ages 5 and up are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. This is the first time that the majority of many families, from our young kids to our grandparents, can have the same robust protection against COVID-19.

For many fully vaccinated family members ages 18 and over, boosters are now available. Receiving a booster when eligible helps keep immunity strong and protects families and communities.

Getting more people vaccinated prior to the winter holidays is important. Last year’s winter surge was devastating in our state, but this year, we can all do our part to avoid preventable hospitalizations and death. By getting the whole family (ages 5 and up) vaccinated, Californians can protect each other and gather safely during the winter holidays.

Everything you need to know to make your family’s appointments:

· Is there a cost? COVID-19 vaccinations are free for all Californians, regardless of immigration status, health insurance status, or background.

· Where can I get vaccinated? There are vaccination sites throughout the county/city. See a list here.

· How do I schedule? You can search and schedule available appointments by visiting MyTurn.ca.gov or by calling 1-833-422-4255.

Where can I learn more? You can learn more about the vaccines by visiting VaccinateALL58.com.

Updated October 25, 2021 

The vaccines work. The COVID-19 vaccines continue to be remarkably effective in reducing risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death, including against the delta variant. CDC data show that in August 2021, the risk of dying from COVID-19 in the U.S. was more than 11 times greater for unvaccinated people than for fully vaccinated people.

Booster doses are recommended for some groups of people:

• Some Pfizer and Moderna recipients should get a booster at least six months after their second shot – people age 65 and older, and adults at high risk due to medical conditions or              exposure at their jobs.
• All Johnson & Johnson recipients age 18 and older should get a booster at least two months after their initial shot.
• Immunocompromised people who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine should get an additional dose at least 28 days after their second dose.

The CDC’s clinical guidance advises people to get the same booster as their initial vaccine, but allows people to mix and match (i.e. get a different COVID-19 booster than their initial vaccine) if they have a different preference.

As the science and the virus evolve, so do our policies and recommendations. Booster doses are common for many vaccines. The scientists and medical experts who developed the COVID-19 vaccines continue to closely watch for signs of waning immunity, how well the vaccines protect against new mutations of the virus, and how that data differ across age groups and risk factors.

Updated October 22, 2021

Who should get a COVID-19 booster dose? 

The protection against disease that vaccines provide may start to wane over time. In these cases, a booster dose may be needed to boost a person’s immune response and increase protection. While the COVID-19 vaccines continue to be remarkably effective in reducing risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death, data from the U.S. and around the world show that a booster is required for some people to maintain the vaccine’s maximum effectiveness in preventing infection.

Based on data for each of the COVID-19 vaccines, the CDC recommends booster shots for some groups of people:

1.      Some Pfizer and Moderna recipients:

• Adults age 65 and over, and those living in long-term care facilities, should get a booster.
• Adults ages 50-64 at high risk of severe COVID-19 due to underlying medical conditions should get a booster.
• Adults ages 18-49 at high risk of severe COVID-19 due to underlying medical conditions may get a booster, based on an assessment of their individual benefits and risks and    consultation with their medical provider.
• Adults age 18-64 for people whose jobs put them at high risk for COVID-19 may get a booster — including health care workers, teachers, daycare staff, grocery workers, and other essential workers, along with people in shelters and prisons.

The booster dose should be administered at least six months after the second Pfizer or Moderna dose, and any available COVID-19 vaccine can be administered as a booster regardless of the primary series. A half dose of the initial Moderna vaccine will be administered for the Moderna booster.

2.      All Johnson & Johnson recipients age 18 and older should get a booster at least two months after their initial shot. Any available COVID-19 vaccine (including Pfizer or Moderna) can be administered as a booster dose for Johnson & Johnson recipients