COVID 3rd Shot Versus Booster Updates

There has been a lot of information being released on COVID-19 regarding a 3^rd dose and booster vaccinations.  Floyd Valley Community Health would like to help clear up questions that you may have.

Currently, CDC is recommending moderately to severely immunocompromised people receive a 3^rd dose in their COVID-19 vaccine series effective immediately.  Appointments should be made with your primary healthcare provider and includes people who have:

• Active treatment for solid tumor and hematologic malignancies.
• Receipt of solid-organ transplant and taking immunosuppressive therapy.
• Receipt of CAR-T-cell or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (within 2 years of transplantation or taking immunosuppression therapy).
• Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g., DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome).
• Advanced or untreated HIV infection.
• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids (i.e., ≥20mg prednisone or equivalent per day), alkylating agents, antimetabolites, transplant-related immunosuppressive drugs, cancer chemotherapeutic agents classified as severely immunosuppressive, tumor-necrosis (TNF) blockers, and other biologic agents that are immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory. 

For those that do not have one of the underlying medical conditions listed above and have completed either a Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination series, boosters of the same vaccine will be available beginning September 20.  There are no plans for mass clinics at this time, please contact your healthcare provider directly or other local resource such as a pharmacy, place of employment, etc. that is authorized to provide COVID vaccines.  Booster vaccines should be given at least 8 months from your 2^nd vaccine, please bring your vaccination card to your appointment.  The Johnson and Johnson vaccine booster is currently waiting for FDA approval, but we anticipate that guidance soon.