COVID-19 Booster Shots Now Available at County Vaccination Sites
Now is the time for people with compromised immune systems to get a third booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. The booster is meant to “boost” the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine for people who have:
- Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
- Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
- Advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response
“Recent studies have shown that people with compromised immune systems do not produce the same level of antibody and cell immunity to the COVID virus and were having more breakthrough infections and illness,” said Dr. Michael Sequeira, Public Health Officer for the County of San Bernardino. “These studies showed that a third shot, a booster shot, brings that level up to a safe zone.”
You should talk to your doctor or healthcare provider to determine if your conditions make you eligible for a booster vaccine at this time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Wednesday a plan to widen eligibility for a third shot eight months after a second dose to all Americans who received Pfizer and Moderna vaccines beginning the week of Sept. 20.
Some people may be concerned about how a third shot might affect them.
“There will probably be the same reactions as with the first two vaccines, and there is evidence that some patients have slightly more of those reactions,” Sequeira said. “These, however, almost always resolve in 2 to 3 days and are improved with acetaminophen and NSAIDs like ibuprofen.”
You do not need to bring medical proof of an immunocompromised condition to get your booster shot. You will be asked to fill out a statement or written document to self-proclaim that you do meet the qualifications to receive a booster. If it has been at least 28 days or more since your second dose, then you may receive a booster shot of either Pfizer or Moderna.
For people who received Pfizer or Moderna, or what’s called mRNA vaccines, a third dose of the same vaccine should be used. If the mRNA vaccine product given for the first two doses is not available, or is unknown, Pfizer or Moderna can be administered, according to the CDC.
The CDC has not yet provided booster shot information for people who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine because there is not enough data at this time to determine whether immunocompromised people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine also have an improved antibody response following an additional dose of the same vaccine.
To find a location to obtain a booster vaccine, please visit sbcovid19.com to make an appointment or walk up to a site near you.
 County Takes Illegal Cannabis Battle to State Capitol
While Sheriff’s deputies and other County team members continue to fight illegal cannabis farms on the ground in our desert communities, Sheriff Shannon Dicus and members of the Board of Supervisors are opening a second front in the campaign by urging State lawmakers to restore harsh criminal penalties.
Desert communities in San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties have seen an explosion in illicit marijuana farms due in large part to the 2016 passage of Proposition 64, which transformed illegal cannabis cultivation from a felony to a misdemeanor.
“$500 misdemeanor fines aren’t a deterrent for illegal cannabis growers when they are making millions of dollars from these crops,” said Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Dawn Rowe. “The intent of Proposition 64 was to create a well-regulated cannabis market in California, but the only thing it has done is strengthen the cannabis black market and reduce the quality of life for residents in rural communities.”
On Monday, Dicus shared with the public a letter he sent to the county’s State legislative delegation asking for their assistance in fixing the unintended glitch in Proposition 64.
“Illegal cannabis cultivation is having a deep, broad, and devastating impact on citizens in our county,” Dicus wrote. “Our residents living near these areas are upset, and several have been victims of threats of violence from the cannabis tenders.”
First District Supervisor Col. Paul Cook (Ret.) supports the focus on State law.
“Illegal marijuana cultivation is a plague on our local communities,” Cook said. “It threatens public safety, funds organized crime, and poisons the environment for years to come.”
“This unintended consequence of Proposition 64’s criminal penalties must be addressed for the safety and security of San Bernardino County residents,” Cook continued. “I fully support Sheriff Dicus’ efforts on this issue, as well as the tough action he has already taken to crack down on illegal cultivation operations.”
Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday to impose civil fines of up to $10,000 per day on illegal growers as well as property owners, plus criminal fines of up to an additional $10,000 for illicit farms, effective immediately, as well as expanded resources for law enforcement to identify and take out these operations.
The County is engaged in a multi-disciplinary approach in its battle against illegal cannabis farming, mustering the resources of the Sheriff, District Attorney, Land Use/Code Enforcement, County Fire, Public Health/Environmental Health, Agriculture/Weights and Measures, County Counsel, and the County Administrative Office.
The following numbers illustrate the magnitude of this issue within the county:
- 1,085 – Pending Identified Illegal Grows
- 272 – Total Search Warrants Served
- 35 – Illegal Bypass Grows
- 251 – Total Arrests (39-Felony & 212-Misdemeanor)
- 52 – Firearms Seized/Recovered
- 404,598 – Plants Seized ($242.8 million)
- 21,029 – Pounds of Processed Cannabis Seized ($25.2 million)
- $129,056 – U.S. Currency Seized
 San Bernardino County Heads Back to School
As students have returned to their classrooms, the County is doing its part to support local schools and school districts by making sure students in our communities “Return Safe, Return Strong.”
That’s the slogan of the County’s Back to School Task Force which includes several cooperative and voluntary initiatives to help schools comply with State mandates, carry out their safety plans and respond to outbreaks should they occur.
Watch this video of schoolchildren returning to their classrooms with their friends to see how they are Returning Safe and Returning Strong!
Also, parents are adjusting to having their children back in school in the middle of a pandemic and all that those requirements entail. Juan Solis, our Father Engagement Coordinator with Children’s Network, offers up some helpful tips for parents who want to stay on top of their child’s education.
 This short PSA video explains the four ways to vote
Everything You Need to Know about Voting in the Recall Election
For the California Recall Election, San Bernardino County registered voters can choose how, when, and where to vote.
Voters have multiple options and voting early is one option. Whether you prefer mailing your ballot, dropping it off, or going to an early vote site, casting your ballot early means avoiding lines at a polling place on September 14.
Here are the details about early voting.
- Mail ballots – On August 16, ballots began to be mailed to San Bernardino County registered voters. Once received, you can cast your vote-by-mail ballot with a pre-paid envelope in the mail, at an early vote site, at ballot drop-off location, or at any polling place.
- Early vote sites – An early vote site is a location where a voter may pick up or cast a mail ballot. The Registrar of Voters office, located at 777 East Rialto Avenue in San Bernardino, is an early vote site and an additional five sites will be open from September 7-11 and on September 13.
- Ballot drop-off locations – Voters can now choose from 70 secure ballot drop-off locations throughout the county to cast their vote. Outdoor ballot drop-boxes are bolted to the ground, and ballots are regularly picked up pursuant to State law.
If you prefer the tradition of voting in person on Election Day, you can choose to vote at your assigned polling place. The County’s more than 300 polling locations will be open on September 14 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Details can be found on our website or on the back of your Voter Information Guide.
As you prepare to vote, remember, it’s “Your Ballot. Vote Safe. Vote Early.”
 Age Wise Recognized with National Innovation Award
Age Wise, a program that has helped seniors facing challenges during the pandemic and connected them to behavioral health and other resources has received national recognition.
The County’s Department of Aging and Adult Services – Public Guardian’s (DAAS-PG) runs the program, which was honored by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging with a 2021 Aging Innovations Award in the home and community-based services category.
Age Wise, a community-based behavioral health program for seniors, provides counseling and wellness services and resources to help meet the specialized needs of older adults ranging from housing to nutrition. Services include in-home and telehealth counseling services, case management, peer and family advocacy, and support and education groups.
In response to the pandemic, Age Wise staff implemented a 24/7 Senior Hotline to enhance access to assistance and resources. Through the hotline, seniors struggling with social isolation and other challenges, such as food insecurities, had an immediate connection to someone to talk to and connect them with behavioral health services.
“Our Age Wise staff remains dedicated to meeting the needs of our seniors, not just during the pandemic, but every day. I’m proud of our staff and their continued efforts to be there for our seniors, 24 hours a day and seven days a week,” said Sharon Nevins, director and Public Guardian for DAAS-PG. “We encourage our seniors who need someone to talk to, to call our Age Wise hotline.”
Seniors can reach Age Wise by calling (800) 451-5633.
 Next Advisory Redistricting Commission Meeting in Montclair on Aug. 26
Montclair Council Chambers is the next location for the Advisory Redistricting Commission Meeting where the public can continue to help map out the future of San Bernardino County’s supervisorial districts.
The meeting begins at 10 a.m. at 5111 Benito Street in Montclair and will be livestreamed from the County’s redistricting website sbcountyredistricting.com.
Every 10 years, the County uses the newest U.S. Census data to redraw the boundaries of each of the five Board of Supervisors districts to ensure each has essentially has the same number of residents, preserves communities of interest such as cities as much as possible, and complies with the Voting Rights Act. The County’s redistricting website offers a wealth of information on the process and schedule as well as contact information and a tool that allows anyone to create and submit their own map of the county’s new supervisorial districts.
Information on upcoming meetings can be found on the redistricting website’s calendar page. All meetings can be viewed from the County’s redistricting website and video recordings of past meetings can be viewed on the redistricting website’s past meetings page.
Sign up for email updates on county redistricting and receive notices about upcoming meetings and other opportunities to participate.
Latest Stats
321,155 Confirmed Cases (up 0.7% from the previous day)
4,878 Deaths (up 0.1% from the previous day)
3,631,374 Tests (up 0.7% from the previous day)
For more statistics from the COVID-19 Surveillance Dashboard, click the desktop or mobile tab on the County’s sbcovid19.com website.
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