Covid vaccine boosters, 3rd doses available at WHHS

Wahkiakum Health and Human Services (WHHS) will begin offering Pfizer covid-19 vaccine boosters to qualifying individuals starting Wednesday.

The department began offering boosters of the Pfizer covid vaccine at our regularly scheduled clinics on Sept. 29 for those that originally had the Moderna, Pfizer, or Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

The department continues to offer third doses of Pfizer to those who are immune deficient and had both doses of either Pfizer or Moderna previously. WHHS will also offer the Pfizer vaccine as a booster for those who originally had the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Boosters are available for certain individuals following recommendations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup and DOH:

1. It must be six months since the second shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, and the individual must also meet at least one of the following conditions:

a. Age 65 or older;

b. Long-term care facility resident;

c. Underlying conditions for 18 and over;

i. No one under 18 may yet have a booster shot;

d. High risk worker – This is not well defined, but should be people who have an increased risk of contracting covid due to their occupation

2. It must be two months since your only dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. It is recommended that everyone 18 and over that had the J&J originally should get a booster.

WHHS is hosting covid vaccine clinics Mondays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m. The clinic is in the Health Department located in the lowest floor of the county building; no appointment is necessary.

Vaccines are available to anyone 12 or older in Wahkiakum County. Getting vaccinated is the best possible protection from covid-19. WHHS encourages everyone who hasn’t already been vaccinated to contact the Health Department or their personal medical provider and get scheduled.