Now that COVID-19 booster shots have been approved by the FDA and CDC, District 2 Public Health is offering booster doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
The FDA and CDC have cleared booster vaccine doses for the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines for specific groups of fully vaccinated individuals. Although the booster dose is not required, it will can help fully vaccinated people maintain protection against the virus over the coming months.
“It is important to note [that] COVID-19 vaccines are working well to prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death,” the District 2 Public Health Office says in a press release. “But with the introduction of the Delta variant, public health experts noticed a reduction of protections against mild and moderate disease.”
People 65 years and older, adults who live in long-term care settings, adults who have underlying medical conditions and adults who work or live in high-risk settings who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine are eligible for a booster shot at 6 months or more after their initial two doses.
For people who received the J&J COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are also recommended for those who are 18 and older and who were vaccinated two or more months ago.
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The FDA has approved the usage of booster vaccines from a different vaccine manufacturer than the vaccine an individual originally received. Those eligible for a booster dose may choose which vaccine they get.
“Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type that they originally received, and others may prefer to get a different booster,” D2PH says. “[The] CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots.”
The D2PH department will offer vaccines at off-site vaccination locations around the Northeast Georgia region.
Those locations are in Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union and White counties. The addresses for those sites are listed on the D2PH website.
The locations are open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and are closed from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. for lunch each day.
Appointments are not required. If you would like to make an appointment, you can do so using the VRAS scheduling system via the District 2 Public Health website.
