10/27/2021 - Caltech COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Clinic on November 9

To: The Campus Community

From: Steve Atlee, Vaccine Working Group Chair and Deputy General Counsel

Date: October 27, 2021

Re: Caltech COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Clinic on November 9

As part of its continued commitment to support the health and well-being of the Caltech community, the Institute will host a COVID-19 vaccine booster clinic on campus on November 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The clinic is being administered in partnership with Vons Pharmacy. Both Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna booster shots will be available by appointment to active employees or enrolled students who have a Caltech ID.

Anyone within that population who received their last dose of either Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccine at least six months ago, or their Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least 2 months ago, may participate. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently expanded eligibility for COVID-19 booster shots to include individuals who received Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines and also to allow individuals to receive a booster of a different variety than their original vaccine. Caltech's clinic will offer both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

Advance registration is required, and walk-ins will not be accepted. A registration link will be sent out Tuesday, November 2 at noon. Up to 1,300 appointments will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

At their appointment, individuals will be asked to show a Caltech ID; a vaccine card or digital vaccine record that includes dates of earlier doses; and to provide a photocopy of proof of insurance.

While the Institute is not yet requiring booster shots as part of its vaccination requirement for employees and students, it strongly encourages anyone who is eligible for a booster to receive one in accordance with CDC guidelines.

According to the CDC, studies have shown that protection against COVID-19 may decrease over time after vaccination. This may be due to waning immunity and/or the greater infectiousness of the Delta variant. Recent studies also show that a booster shot increases the immune response to the virus and should improve protection against the virus that causes COVID-19, including the Delta variant.