On Tuesday, March 29, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved a fourth dose of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for people 50 and older and a fifth dose for individuals who are immunocompromised.
Chaffee County Public Health (CCPH) confirms that people over 50 may now receive a fourth dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines at least four months after their third dose, and Colorado COVID-19 vaccine providers are authorized to administer those doses starting now. In addition, the CDC has also approved a second dose of Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for adults who received a primary vaccine and booster dose of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine at least four months ago.
Dr. Lisa Zwerdlinger, Lake County Public Health Agency’s Medical Advisor and Chief Medical Officer of St. Vincent Health, receives the first COVID-19 vaccine given in Lake County in Dec, 2020. Colleen Nielsen, RN, BSN, Director of Lake County Public Health Agency, administered the shot. Photo courtesy Lake County
Vaccines are the safest, most effective way to slow the spread of COVID-19 and its variants, and to help avoid the worst outcomes (severe illness, hospitalization, and death) among those who do become infected.
“CCPH has been anticipating an announcement regarding additional COVID-19 vaccine booster doses from the federal level and has been planning for increased demand due to our older adult population and those who are immunocompromised becoming eligible,” said CCPH Director and Incident Commander for the Chaffee County COVID-19 pandemic Andrea Carlstrom. “However, it is imperative that those who are eligible and have held out to get their original series or first booster do so right away.”
“The additional shot that was approved yesterday will give those at higher risk, and potentially with waning immunity, an extra layer of protection as we see COVID-19 and the more transmissible Omicron variant play out,” added Carlstrom. “The Omicron BA.2 sub-variant, which is more transmissible than the original BA.1 sub-variant, is increasing in Colorado, and we want everyone to be protected from severe illness, hospitalization, and death, regardless of whether we see a future surge or not. There are ample opportunities in Chaffee County for those five years of age and older to get the recommended level of vaccination.”
In fact, there are more than 1,900 provider locations across Colorado, including pharmacies and doctor’s offices. The COVID-19 vaccine is free. Coloradans don’t need ID or insurance to get vaccinated and are entitled to paid time off from their job to get vaccinated and recover from any side effects. In Chaffee County, vaccine providers can be found at: bit.ly/ChaffeeCOVIDVaccines.
Local Vaccination via CDPHE Vaccine Bus
CCPH has no plans at this time to host future mass vaccination clinics. Appointments will be made at regularly scheduled immunization clinics which take place several days a week. There are multiple vaccine providers throughout the county. In addition, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s (CDPHE) Vaccine Bus will be roaming throughout the county on the following confirmed dates in April (additional dates are being finalized):
Saturday, April 2 at the Chaffee County Home and Garden Show, Chaffee County Fairgrounds
Sunday, April 3 in Buena Vista
Friday, April 22 in Salida
Saturday, April 23 in Buena Vista
In summary, yesterday’s announcement said that:
- A second booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine may be administered to individuals 50 years of age and older, at least four months after receipt of a first booster dose of any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine.
- A second booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine may be administered to individuals 12 years of age and older with certain kinds of immunocompromise at least four months after receipt of a first booster dose of any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine. These are people who have undergone solid organ transplantation or who are living with conditions that are considered to have an equivalent level of immunocompromised.
- A second booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine may be administered at least four months after the first booster dose of any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine to individuals 18 years of age and older with the same certain kinds of immunocompromise.
COVID-19 Information Resources
For testing information, go to: bit.ly/ChaffeeCOVIDTesting.
For vaccination information, go to: bit.ly/ChaffeeCOVIDVaccines.
For treatment information, go to: bit.ly/ChaffeeCOVIDTreatment.
For information on what to do if someone tests positive or is a close contact, go to: https://www.chaffeecounty.org/Public-Health-Coronavirus#positive.
Continue to stay up to date by visiting covid19.colorado.gov.
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