A COVID-19 vaccine is administered at a mobile clinic in West Long Beach. Photo by Sebastian Echeverry.

COVID-19 booster shots will be available for 16 and 17-year-olds in Long Beach starting Friday, Dec. 17, after previously only being authorized for use by those 18 years and older, the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services announced today.

“With boosters becoming available for everyone 16 and older, now we can further protect our community,” Mayor Robert Garcia said in a news release. “Our success in vaccinations is thanks to many people who got their COVID-19 vaccines and boosters early.”

According to the city, only Pfizer boosters will be administered because the Moderna and the Johnson & Johnson boosters are still only eligible for people over the age of 18. The boosters will be available six months after an eligible person receives their second dose. According to the city’s vaccine portal, 75.8% of Long Beach residents 16 and up have been vaccinated with two doses.

In Long Beach, more than 3,000 adolescents between the ages of 16 and 17 received two doses of the Pfizer brand vaccine by June 17 and will be eligible for their booster shot starting Friday, according to the press release. All minors will need to fill out a parental consent form in order to receive a vaccine or booster shot.

Long Beach experienced a surge in COVID-19 transmissions in July, especially among people who were not vaccinated. Data compiled by the Health Department showed that the average age of death from COVID-19 dropped from 72 years to 59 years. However, full vaccination can provide protection from severe symptoms brought on by COVID-19.

“The vaccine has proven to be effective against the widely circulating Delta variant and is believed to provide protection against the newly-indentified and highly contagious Omicron variant,” according to the city’s news release. Long Beach reported its first and only Omicron variant case thus far this month.

Booster shots will be available at all city-run vaccination sites, which run six days a week and have several appointment slots. To make an appointment, click here. Eligible people may also receive boosters through their health care provider or a local pharmacy that administers the shot.

Long Beach reports first case of COVID-19 omicron variant