Chatham County Issues Pfizer Booster Guidance PDF Print E-mail
Local Government
By Administrator   
Friday, 24 September 2021 16:25

As news comes from federal agencies about expanding eligibility for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots, the Chatham County Public Health Department continues to encourage more people to get their first dose as soon as possible.

Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Doses

On Friday, September 24th, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) recommended that the following people who received their second dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at least six months ago should receive a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine:

  • Those who are 65 years of age and older, and residents of long-term care facilities like nursing homes; and
  • Those who are 50 to 64 years old with certain cal conditions.

In addition, the CDC said the following people may receive a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine, based on their individual benefits and risks:

  • Those who are 18 to 49 years old with 
  • Those 18 to 64 years old who work or live in settings that make them more likely to be exposed to COVID-19.

A few important facts 

  • Booster shots are only recommended for those who received the Pfizer vaccine. People who got the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines should not get a booster shot at this time.
  • The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine was already fully approved by the FDA for all individuals aged 16 and older as a two-dose series.
  • The booster dose is the same as the approved vaccine.

“There are three key points to make based on this news,” said Chatham County Public Health Director Mike Zelek. “First, all authorized COVID-19 vaccines continue to work very well against COVID-19, particularly in preventing serious illness and death. Second, some who received the Pfizer vaccine can benefit from a booster dose. This includes those who are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 or are at higher risk of getting exposed to COVID-19 based on where they work or live. Third, and most importantly, our ability to end this pandemic will depend on those who are not yet vaccinated getting their first and second doses.”

The Chatham County Public Health Department continues to offer the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at its Siler City clinic, but there are several locations in Chatham County that offer the Pfizer vaccine and are giving the booster, including:

  • Siler City Pharmacy
  • Pittsboro Pharmacy
  • 501 Pharmacy in Chapel Hill
  • Walmart in Siler City
  • CVS Pharmacy in Chapel Hill and Siler City
  • Harris Teeter in Chapel Hill
  • Walgreens in Siler City and Pittsboro
  • StarMed Healthcare in Goldston (Wednesday afternoons at Goldston Town Hall)
  • Optum Healthcare in Pittsboro (Mondays and Thursdays at the Old Agricultural Building in downtown Pittsboro)

Get Your First Vaccine Dose Now

To best protect the Chatham County community, all individuals who are eligible should get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible.

As of September 23rd, Chatham County saw 131 new cases and 7% of tests returning positive over the previous week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While both case numbers and test percent positivity decreased from the previous seven days, there is still high community transmission of COVID-19 in Chatham, meaning that everyone in the county should continue to wear a mask in public indoor settings.

As of Thursday, September 23rd, 55% of Chatham County residents had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 52% were considered fully vaccinated.

“COVID-19 is still a threat in Chatham County. Like communities across the state and country, we have had deaths during the recent surge, a stark reminder that this remains a deadly virus” added Zelek. “Our healthcare workers also continue to carry a heavy load. Let’s support them and each one another by doing the easy thing and getting a COVID-19 vaccine.”

 
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