The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has begun distributing supplies of COVID-19 omicron booster vaccine in La Plata and Archuleta counties.
The booster is available through medical providers, pharmacies and at CDPHE’s mobile vaccine clinics, according to a news release from San Juan Basin Public Health. The CDPHE will also be opening a temporary vaccine clinic from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays beginning Monday, Sept. 12, at the La Plata County Fairgrounds.
SJBPH also has limited omicron booster appointments at its Durango and Pagosa Springs offices. Other locations for vaccine availability can be found via vaccines.gov and Colorado’s Vaccine Hotline, (877) 268-2926.
Only Pfizer’s omicron dose is authorized for people 12 years and older. Moderna’s omicron dose is authorized for people 18 years and older. Anyone aged 12 and older who has completed a primary series of COVID-19 vaccine should receive an omicron dose.
A primary series means two doses of Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax or one dose of Johnson and Johnson. People who are immunocompromised may receive up to three doses in their primary series. People who have already received any number of booster doses should also receive a booster dose at least two months after completing their primary series.
People who have recently had COVID-19 may wait up to three months after testing positive or experiencing symptoms before getting their booster.
While COVID-19 cases have leveled or declined, the virus continues to circulate in southern Colorado communities and can cause severe illness, especially for people of advanced age and people with certain medical conditions. Individuals are encouraged to stay up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters, and test if experiencing symptoms. SJBPH urges individuals to follow CDC guidelines if they are sick or exposed.
Free community PCR testing is also available at the La Plata County Fairgrounds from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and from 8 a.m. to noon Friday and Saturday. At-home tests are available for free at the SJBPH office in both Durango and Pagosa Springs. More information is available on SJBPH’s website.
Vaccines are the safest, most effective way to prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death caused by COVID-19 and its variants, according to SJBPH.
CDPHE, with coordination from SJBPH, has continued to provide vaccines and boosters in long-term care facilities in recent days. It remains especially important for older adults and high-risk individuals to be up-to-date on vaccinations in advance of the fall and winter, when more activities move indoors and spread of respiratory illnesses can increase, according to the release.
molsen@durangoherald.com
