Editor’s note: the following information has been released by the Jefferson County Health Department.
The Jefferson County Health Department (JCHD) and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendation that children ages 5-11 should receive a booster dose five months after their primary COVID-19 vaccination series. With this recommendation, JCHD, DHS and CDC now recommend COVID-19 vaccine booster doses to everyone 5 and older.
The CDC also recently strengthened another booster recommendation, encouraging people 12 and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, and people 50 and older to get a second COVID-19 booster dose.
On Jan. 3, the FDA authorized the use of a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for administration to individuals 12 through 15 years of age after completion of primary vaccination with the Pfizer- BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. This new action expands the use of a single booster dose of the vaccine for administration to individuals 5 through 11 years of age at least five months after completion of a primary series of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is the only vaccine authorized and recommended for ages 5-17 for COVID-19 primary series and booster dose vaccination at this time.
DHS strongly recommends that everyone who is eligible to get a booster should get one as soon as possible. Booster doses can strengthen and extend protection against infection, serious illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. The most commonly reported side effects from the booster dose were pain, redness and swelling at the injection site, as well as fatigue, headache, muscle or joint pain and chills and fever.
Staying up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines is the best protection for preventing the worst outcomes from the virus. You are considered up to date with COVID-19 vaccines once you have received all recommended COVID- 19 vaccines, including a booster dose when you are eligible. Therapeutics that can prevent severe illness from COVID-19 are also widely available. If you or a family member is at high risk for severe illness based on age, underlying or immunocompromising health conditions, talk to a health care provider about the options available. You may also contact the Jefferson County Health Department at COVID19@jeffersoncountywi.gov.
JCHD will be administering COVID-19 vaccine at the health department Tuesday and Thursday by appointment only. Appointments can be made by calling the health department at 920-674-7275.
To find a COVID-19 vaccination site, visit www.vaccines.gov, text your zip code to 438829, or call 211. You can also call 844-684-1064 or 800-232-0233. Many pharmacies (Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, or your local pharmacy chain) may offer walk-in vaccinations. Always call ahead to ensure availability.
Public domain/file photo.
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