By Sri Ravipati
(SAN FRANCISCO) In San Francisco, people who were given Johnson & Johnson's single-shot Janssen COVID-19 vaccination are allowed to receive a supplemental vaccination.
The San Francisco Department of Public Health is allowing supplemental mRNA shots of Pfizer or Moderna for those requesting it who have consulted with a physician. It is not a recommendation or policy change but an "accommodation," the officials said.
The city’s public health department said it’s been going on for some time at San Francisco General Hospital and neighborhood vaccination sites.
Director Dr. Grant Colfax said they still believe in the integrity of the Janssen vaccine, KRON 4 reported.
“It’s a good vaccine, we will continue to administer it,” Dr. Colfax said, per KRON 4.
He said the city's public health department doesn't have conclusive data on additional shots beyond the CDC or FDA, which have not issued an official recommendation for COVID-19 supplemental shots.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed, who received the Janssen vaccine, said she won't be getting a supplemental dose at the moment.
“It’s currently not recommended by our medical health experts, I’m following their advice so I’m gonna do it if I need to do it but if I don’t need to do it I’m not gonna do it,” Breed said.
As of Tuesday, 76% of San Francisco residents have had at least one vaccine dose while 70% have been fully vaccinated.