California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is now mandating booster shots for health care workers to further combat the spread of COVID-19.
Newsom announced on Dec. 21 that California will compel health care workers to receive COVID-19 vaccination booster shots to help mitigate possible staffing concerns during the continuous fight against the potentially deadly virus. A booster shot is a third dose of the vaccine, after having been fully vaccinated at least six months beforehand.
"With omicron on the rise, we’re taking immediate actions to protect Californians and ensure our hospitals are prepared," Newsom posted on Twitter Dec. 21.
California is the second state to mandate booster shots for health care workers, according to NBC News. New Mexico was the first.
The U.S. confirmed its first case of omicron in Northern California in early December. Omicron is now the dominant coronavirus variant in the country.
"If you're not fully vaccinated, you have good reason to be concerned" about the new variant, President Joe Biden said in an address from the White House, according to NBC News. "You're at a high risk of getting sick. And if you get sick, you're likely to spread it to others, including friends and family."
