EC North Carolina News

County of Wayne issued the following announcement on Oct. 2. 

Starting Wednesday, September 29, 2021, the Wayne County Health Department will begin administering booster shots to strengthen and extend protections against severe COVID-19 illness. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have authorized a booster Pfizer-BioNTech (COMIRNATY) vaccine to those who have been vaccinated for six months and are at high risk for serious illness or exposure.

To receive a booster shot, you must be fully vaccinated for six months with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and be in one of the groups below:

• 65 years or older
• Residents in long-term care
• 18 years or older with underlying medical conditions
• 18-64 years and work in high-risk settings like healthcare workers, teachers and childcare providers or food workers

“These vaccines are still very effective,” said Dr. James Stackhouse, medical director at the Wayne County Health Department. “Over time, vaccine protection against COVID-19 starts to drop. Boosters are very common with other vaccines and we are still learning how long protection will last with the COVID-19 vaccines currently available.”

There is no booster currently authorized for Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine recipients. 

Booster shots are being given by the Wayne County Health Department by appointment only. To schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment, visit www.waynegov.com/vaccine. For additional information on the COVID-19 vaccine or additional doses, visit http://myspot.nc.gov/.

Original source can be found here.