Boosters for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines are now available in La Plata County for eligible people, San Juan Basin Public Health announced Friday morning.
On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved “mix and match” vaccine boosters for eligible people who received their initial vaccination, meaning people who received a shot or shots of one vaccine type aren’t restricted to that same vaccine type for their booster.
“The booster eligibility continues to expand, and we hope the community will take advantage of this opportunity to build more immunity and protection from COVID-19,” said SJBPH Executive Director Liane Jollon. “The CDC and FDA (Food and Drug Administration) have studied the vaccine and booster doses thoroughly – they are safe and highly effective, especially at preventing hospitalization and death.”
Jollon said FDA approval for 5- to 11-year-olds to receive COVID-19 vaccines could come as early as November.
People who completed their vaccination of a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine at least six months ago are eligible for a booster shot of any of the three COVID-19 vaccines, if they fall into one of these categories:
- 65 years and older.
- Age 18 and older who live in long-term care settings.
- Age 18 and older who have underlying medical conditions.
- Age 18 and older who work or live in high-risk settings.
People with these underlying health conditions are eligible for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine:
- Obesity.
- Diabetes.
- Chronic lung disease.
- Significant heart disease.
- Chronic kidney disease.
- Cancer.
- Other underlying health conditions.
Workers in the specific institutions also qualify for Pfizer eligibility:
- Health care workers.
- Teachers and day care staff members.
- Grocery workers.
- People in long-term care facilities, homeless shelters, prisons or other congregate settings.
- First responders.
People who completed their vaccination of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago are eligible for a booster shot of any of the three COVID-19 vaccines if they are 18 years old or older.
On Saturday, more than 60 Southwest Colorado Medical Reserve Corps volunteers will be at the La Plata County Fairgrounds to provide first, second, third and booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines to eligible county residents, SJBPH said in a news release.
With the arrival of COVID-19, more than 700 volunteers registered with the Southwest Colorado unit of the MRC, which consists of medically trained and non-medical volunteers, SJBPH said. The volunteers are deployed in various scenarios to bolster public health response to emergencies and natural disasters.
Additional vaccine clinics are planned for the weekend at Pagosa Springs Middle School. Every SJBPH and Jogan Health Clinic provide boosters, additional doses as well as initial and follow-up doses to eligible residents, SJBPH said.
For more information about COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, boosters and vaccination clinics, visit San Juan Basin Public Health’s website at https://sjbpublichealth.org/covid-19-vaccine/.
The Food and Drug Administration-approved Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are effective protection against the original virus that causes COVID-19 as well as variants of the virus, such as the delta variant that is most prominent in La Plata County, according to the CDC.
SJBPH reported that statewide hospitalizations reached 1,130 people with only 934 beds remaining as of Thursday.
“COVID-19 hospitalizations are putting a strain on Colorado’s hospital system, and some surgeries and procedures are being canceled in parts of the state,” according to the SJBPH news release. “The vast majority of COVID-19 hospitalizations are occurring in the unvaccinated population.”
SJBPH advised La Plata County residents to continue wearing masks in businesses, schools and other indoor public spaces regardless of whether they have been vaccinated.
cburney@durangoherald.com
