On Friday, September 17th, 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) met to make a decision on the approval of and criteria for the use of the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine as a booster dose.
Regardless of its decision, it is expected that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will have an emergency meeting today and tomorrow to determine next steps. Vaccination providers participating in the COVID-19 Vaccination Program must adhere to CDC requirements and ACIP recommendations related to COVID-19 vaccination. This includes vaccination prioritization, administration fees, and clinical guidance. If approved, it is possible that Pfizer providers will be allowed to start administering booster doses to eligible populations only starting in the near future. Those who are eligible must have received their 2nd dose of Pfizer 6 to 8 months, yet to be determined, or more ago and fall within one or more of the eligible categories. A follow up press release will be forthcoming after ACIP votes on booster details.
While there are many options to obtain a Pfizer booster shot in Chaffee County and the surrounding area, Chaffee County Public Health (CCPH) will be holding several booster clinics, separate from its flu, regular vaccination, and COVID-19 1st and 2nd dose clinics, to assist in this effort. Appointments must be made online using CCPH’s RSVPify scheduler (assistance is available). The booster will be free, and paperwork should be filled out ahead of time whenever possible. Due to the success of CCPH’s major mass vaccination program this past winter and spring, the booster clinics will be held at the Chaffee County Fairgrounds, 10165 Co Rd 120, Salida, only by appointment. Dates will be released once the effective date is determined by ACIP this week.
At this time, all clinics will be held 12p-4p, will be Pfizer only until approval of a Moderna booster, and there is no reason to arrive early. CCPH appreciates everyone coming at their scheduled time to mitigate traffic and backlog. Future clinic dates will be scheduled once demand is assessed and if additional populations are added to the eligible list. Chaffee County residents are not required to get their booster from the same provider that they received their 1st or 2nd doses from, as there are many more local providers than at the beginning of the COVID-19 vaccination rollout. It is possible that only those who received Pfizer for their 1st and 2nd doses will be eligible to receive a Pfizer booster.
CCPH wants the public to know that despite the approval of booster shots, those who have been fully vaccinated still have strong immunity against COVID-19 including the Delta variant. The intent of this rollout is to protect those who are our community’s most vulnerable and highest risk and keep them from serious illness or having to be hospitalized.
“We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we experience yet again what is anticipated as a phased approach to COVID-19 vaccinations with the recent news on approval of Pfizer boosters. We are in a different place than we were with the original rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. There will be ample places to get a booster as long as someone is eligible. With the advent of the Delta variant, which is more transmissible than previous strains, getting as many people fully vaccinated as possible is the key to protect ourselves and the people we love. If you have been on the fence to get your initial shots and are eligible to get vaccinated, we urge you to make an appointment today,” says Andrea Carlstrom, Director, Chaffee County Public Health.
If you have questions about the booster dose, CCPH encourages you to first review the latest information found on the Chaffee County website, www.chaffeecounty.org, weekly situational awareness reports, and on social media. E-mail inquiries can be sent to health@chaffeecounty.org. If these resources do not answer your questions, please call 719-539-4510, although it is anticipated the call volume will be high and you may have to leave a voicemail.
Due to the changing dynamics that are occurring in what is now considered the fifth wave of the pandemic, CCPH, along with local healthcare stakeholders, will host a Town Hall on Tuesday, September 28th at 10am on Zoom. The recording will be posted on the Chaffee County COVID-19 Facebook page shortly after the event. Questions from the public can be submitted by noon on Monday the 27th to acarlstrom@chaffeecounty.org.
In addition, CCPH recently collected feedback on its COVID-19 communication strategies to date through a community wide survey. The results indicate that CCPH’s COVID-19 website, data dashboard, and Facebook page are widely used and found very valuable. CCPH will continue its investment in these communications moving forward. CCPH’s weekly situational awareness report is posted on Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning. This document contains important and timely information and resources regarding our COVID-19 response.
CCPH is also excited to announce that it will be holding its first of two influenza immunization clinics on Wednesday, September 29th from 3pm-5pm at Sangre de Cristo Electric Association, 29780 Hwy 24, Buena Vista. This will be a drive through clinic, and while registration is not required, it is suggested for planning purposes. Online registration can be found at https://chaffeecounty-sept29.rsvpify.com. High dose vaccine will be available for those 65 years of age and older. This clinic is open to insured and uninsured individuals. All insurance plans cover the flu vaccine, so it is important to bring one’s insurance card. Because giving shots to younger children in vehicles is challenging, this event will be for ages 12 and older. Families with younger kids can make appointments with CCPH or their primary care provider. The second flu mass vaccination clinic will be held at the Chaffee County Fairgrounds on Friday, October 22nd from noon-4pm. More information will be released about that clinic when the time gets closer. CCPH requests that everyone participating in the clinics wear a mask in their vehicle regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status.
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