Many clinics available for first time and 'third' time COVID vaccinations

Vermont Business Magazine Anyone age 12 and older is eligible to be vaccinated, regardless of residency. Those 12-17 are eligible for only the Pfizer vaccine. The third dose for immunocompromised individuals is available now but only those who have received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines may get a third dose. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine has not been approved for a booster. The CDC is expected to have further guidance as early as September on the general population receiving a booster, perhaps including the J&J shot.

If you are seeking a third dose through a pharmacy, call ahead or check their website to see what vaccine they have (if must be the same as the first two) and if you can walk in. Vermont Health Commissioner Dr Mark Levine considers this third shot a completion of the initial vaccine phase for those immunocompromised and not a "booster."

The CDC recommends that people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems should receive an additional dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) at least 28 days after their first two doses. This includes people who have:

• Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
• Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
• Advanced or untreated HIV infection
• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response

If you have one of the conditions listed above, talk to your health care provider about whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for you. The additional dose must be the same type as your previous dose. For example, if your first two doses were the Pfizer vaccine, then the additional dose must also be Pfizer, and if your first two doses were Moderna, then the additional dose must also be Moderna. If you received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, there is no recommendation to get an additional dose at this time.

Additional doses of vaccine are available at some pharmacies and through some health care providers. Call first to find out if they are offered. Additional doses will be available at state-run COVID-19 centers soon. In Vermont, when you get your third shot at a pharmacy or state-run vaccine site you will be asked to agree that you fit the CDC description of someone with a moderately to severely compromised immune system. You will not be asked for proof.

Learn more from the CDC about COVID-19 vaccines for moderately to severely immunocompromised people

Anyone else who is fully vaccinated has enough protection from COVID-19 and does not need an extra dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at this time.

If you are unvaccinated and 12 to 17 years old, look for clinics that offer the Pfizer vaccine and bring a parent or guardian with you.

Walk-in appointments are available at these store pharmacies: Costco, CVS, Hannaford (other than Barre), Kinney Drugs, Price Chopper/Market 32, Rite Aid, Shaws, Walgreens, Walmart, and at these pharmacies: Northfield Pharmacy, UVM Medical Center Outpatient Pharmacies.

ASL interpretation is available by video at all state-run vaccination clinics.

Source: Vermont Deartment of Health 8.17.2021