The Peru Gazette

Plattsburgh, October 26, 2021. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated their recommendations regarding COVID-19 booster shots. The CDC now recommends that certain, eligible, people receive a COVID-19 booster shot, including those who received Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccines. The Clinton County Health Department (CCHD) will begin offering COVID-19 boosters for eligible individuals who received Moderna on Thursday, October 28, 2021. CCHD will continue to administer COVID-19 boosters for eligible individuals who received Pfizer at these clinics. Residents who are eligible can register for a CCHD clinic regardless of where their first two doses were administered. 

“We are very happy to begin administering Moderna boosters at our POD this week,” stated John Kanoza, Director of Public Health at CCHD. “We are now able to administer first, second, and third doses of Moderna and Pfizer as well as these boosters.” 

For individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at 6 months or more after their initial series: 

 65 years and older 

 Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings 

 Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions 

 Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings 

For residents who received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are also recommended for those who are 18 and older and who were vaccinated two or more months ago. “At this time, we (CCHD) are not able to offer booster shots for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine,” explained Mr. Kanoza. “We would encourage those who received this vaccine to contact the provider who administered their first dose for information on those booster shots.” 

To learn more about who is eligible or to register for a booster, please visit www.clintonhealth.org/covid19vaccine. 

CCHD continues to offer COVID-19 vaccine clinics each week for residents needing dose 1, dose 2, or dose 3 appointments. The CDC recommends that people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems receive an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least 28 days after a second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. To schedule a dose 1, dose 2, or dose 3 appointment call 518-565-4848.