COVID cases were peaking in late August in Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Lompoc, judging by the sewer results collected by the state, which is just about when fall and the new school year were settling in. The increase had been pronounced in the wastewater flowing in Goleta and Lompoc but has since subsided, while Santa Barbara’s was plateauing but high. Positive cases were up at the moment, the county Public Health Department reported, though hospitalizations remain low.
For those of us trying to keep up on the latest, there’s no longer a federal COVID vaccine mandate, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced it has restricted eligibility for boosters and vaccination to “anyone aged 65 and older, as well as people 6 months and up with high-risk medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or cancer),” said Dr. Lynn Fitzgibbons, an infectious disease expert and educator with Cottage Health. “Pregnant women and children may also qualify depending on their provider’s judgment,” she said after the latest recommendation from FDA.
Pharmacy clinics around town and some doctors’ offices offer the vaccine. “For those not eligible, pharmacies may require a prescription or to self-attest to a qualifying condition before vaccination,” Dr. Fitzgibbons advised. Patients may need to check with their insurance carrier for vaccination coverage, but she estimated the price of a booster ranged between $90 and $200, depending on the provider…