Educators and community members,
COVID-19 BOOSTER appointments are available now! Please feel free to share with anyone you know. Follow the scheduling link below to find where Community Nursing Services is offering opportunities within SLCO.
Following formal recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)/CDC and in line with direction from the Utah Department of Health, Community Nursing Services (CNS) Immunization Program began offering COVID-19 BOOSTER doses to eligible individuals 10/22/2021.
PFIZER and Moderna
Both PFIZER and Moderna COVID-19 booster doses are recommended for people at highest risk for severe COVID-19 including:
- people who are 65 or older, and
- people 18 and older who live in a long-term care facility, and
- people 18 and older with underlying medical conditions that put them at high risk for severe illness from COVID-19, and
- people 18 and older who live or work in a setting that puts them at a higher risk of exposure to COVID-19, such as healthcare workers and teachers.
Note that recommendation applies to individuals who received either the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 or Moderna vaccine for their primary series at least 6 months prior.
“Data reviewed by the FDA and ACIP showed booster doses can prevent further hospitalizations and death for those individuals who are at highest risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Data shows that the vaccines continue to provide very good protection against severe COVID-19 illness in the general population. Most Utahans do not need a booster at this time, but a booster can help add another layer of protection to those people at the highest risk of severe COVID-19,” said Dr. Leisha Nolen, UDOH state epidemiologist.
Note the underlying conditions below. As with initial roll out, individuals will need to self attest to eligibility for such conditions.
- Cancer
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic lung diseases
- Neurological conditions, such as dementia
- Diabetes
- Down syndrome
- Heart conditions
- HIV infection
- Liver disease
- Overweight
- Pregnancy and recently pregnant
- Sickle cell disease or thalassemia
- Smoking, current or former
- Solid organ or blood stem cell transplant
- Stroke or cerebrovascular disease
- Substance use disorders
- Weakened immune system
Johnson and Johnson
For the nearly 15 million people who got the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are also recommended for those who are 18 and older and who were vaccinated two or more months ago.
Options
There are now booster recommendations for all three available COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type that they originally received and others, may prefer to get a different booster. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots without preference.
Though CNS will not be providing individual on-site BOOSTER clinics within schools similar to the initial roll out, we would like you to be aware of some CNS locations in SLCO where appointments are now available for those eligible. Note that BOOSTER doses are readily available throughout the state at varied locations including pharmacies, health departments, providers offices, etc.
COVID-19 vaccine appointment scheduling link