Booster Dose for COMIRNATY/PFIZER COVID-19 Vaccine

Ed Day, Rockland County Executive

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 27, 2021
Contact: John Lyon, Director of Strategic Communications (845) 638-5645
                Patricia Schnabel Ruppert, D.O., M.P.H., CPE, DABFM, FAAFP (845) 364-2512

NEW CITY, NY, – Rockland County Executive Ed Day and County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert announce that a booster dose of the Comirnaty/Pfizer-BioNTech (mRNA) vaccine is available to certain populations which received the Comirnaty/Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that certain people should get a booster dose 6 months after their 2nd dose of Comirnaty/Pfizer-BioNTech. A booster dose is currently only available to those who received two doses of the Comirnaty/Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

The Rockland County Department of Health (RCDOH) continues to offer COVID-19 vaccination clinics several times a week for those who need a first, second, or third dose and will now be offering booster doses of the Comirnaty/Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to those who qualify beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, September 28, 2021, from 3:00 – 7:00 pm.

To make an appointment at the RCDOH visit, http://rcklnd.us/covid19Appointments are strongly encouraged. You may walk into any clinic; no appointment is necessary, however, there may be a wait. If you have health insurance, please bring your benefit card with you. The vaccine is free; however, the health department can collect an administrative fee from insurance plans. All are welcome regardless of immigration status.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that the following groups should receive a booster shot of Comirnaty/Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 Vaccine at least 6 months after completing their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series (i.e., the first 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine):

  • people aged 65 years and older.
  • residents aged 18 years and older in long-term care settings.
  • people aged 50–64 years with the certain underlying medical conditions.

CDC also recommends that the following groups may receive a booster shot of Comirnaty/Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 Vaccine at least 6 months after completing their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks:

  • people aged 18–49 years with the certain underlying medical conditions.
  • people aged 18–64 years are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of an occupational or institutional setting. This includes education staff (teachers, support staff, daycare workers), correctional workers, homeless shelters, healthcare workers, firefighters, police, congregate care staff, food and agriculture workers, manufacturing workers, U.S. Postal Service workers, public transit workers, and grocery store workers.

These recommendations only apply to people who previously received a Pfizer-BioNTech primary series (i.e., the first 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine). Currently, a booster dose for those who received two doses of Moderna vaccine or a single-dose of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccination is not yet approved. Moderna did apply for FDA emergency authorization for a booster shot and approval may soon be granted. You should bring your vaccination card with you. Staff will confirm your two-dose series with Comirnaty/Pfizer-BioNTech was at least 6-months ago.

People can talk to their healthcare provider about whether getting a Comirnaty/Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster shot is appropriate for them.

“In following guidance from CDC and NYSDOH, our Health Department staff is ready to help provide booster doses to certain vulnerable people who received their second dose Pfizer vaccine more than six months ago. We can provide these individuals with the extra protection needed against COVID-19. For those who have not yet gotten vaccinated, please get vaccinated now to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Getting vaccinated can protect yourself and those around you from hospitalization, complications, and even death,” said Rockland County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert.

The COVID-19 vaccine and booster shot are the best way to keep from getting and spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. In addition, continue following the CDC’s public health prevention measures to help slow the spread of COVID-19:

  • wear a mask indoors
  • stay 6 feet away from others not within your household
  • wash your hands often
  • stay home if you are sick

Visit the New York State Am I Eligible webpage or Vaccines.gov to find additional vaccination sites near you. You can also check your local pharmacy’s website to see if vaccination walk-ins or appointments are available. For questions, more information, or if you need assistance scheduling a COVID-19 vaccine appointment, call 845-238-1956 from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday – Friday (except holidays).

For more information on a vaccine booster dose, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html

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Joan Will

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