September 9, 2022
PRESS RELEASE
Bonnie Obremski, COVID-19 Communications Specialist, Jefferson County Public Health, bobremski@co.jefferson.wa.us
Click here to view Spanish translation.
Bivalent COVID-19 booster available at upcoming clinics
JEFFERSON COUNTY— Jefferson County residents who are eligible for a bivalent (omicron) COVID-19 booster may receive their vaccination at one of three upcoming clinics, as long as they are members of one of the following higher-risk populations:
- Ages 65 and older
- Individuals who are moderately to severely immunocompromised
- Healthcare workers
- Emergency responders
Members of lower-risk populations should contact a local pharmacy in order to schedule an appointment for the updated booster. Please practice patience as initial supplies of the updated vaccine are limited.
A person is eligible for a bivalent booster when:
- They are at least 12 years old
- They have had at least one dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine or completed their series of the Pfizer, Moderna, or Novavax vaccine
- They are at least two months beyond their last dose of vaccine
Details about the upcoming clinics are as follows:
Saturday, September 24
Chimacum Junior/Senior High School
9 AM-1 PM
Appointment required.
Sign up to receive Moderna (18+): https://prepmod.doh.wa.gov//appointment/en/reg/6089129461
Sign up to receive Pfizer (12+): https://prepmod.doh.wa.gov//appointment/en/reg/9612929061
Saturday, October 1
Port Townsend Clinic Registration Closed.
Blue Heron Middle School, Port Townsend
9 AM-1 PM
Appointment required.
Sign up to receive Moderna (18+): https://prepmod.doh.wa.gov//appointment/en/reg/0012961969
Sign up to receive Pfizer (12+): https://prepmod.doh.wa.gov//appointment/en/reg/6099129631
Saturday, October 8
Quilcene clinic registration open to those who reside in Quilcene/Brinnon areas only.
Quilcene Junior/Senior High School
9-11 AM
Appointment required.
Sign up to receive Moderna (18+): https://prepmod.doh.wa.gov//appointment/en/reg/9121669089
Sign up to receive Pfizer (12+): https://prepmod.doh.wa.gov//appointment/en/reg/9294101696
Sign up to receive Pfizer monovalent (original) booster for ages 5-11 only: https://prepmod.doh.wa.gov//appointment/en/reg/9941610162
Reach the Jefferson County Department of Emergency Management Call Center phone at 360-344-9791 for registration assistance. Please leave a message and someone will return your call. Staffing is limited so please exercise patience while waiting for your return call.
These clinics are operated by Jefferson County Public Health in partnership with the Jefferson County Department of Emergency Management.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why should I receive another booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine?
A: The bi-valent (omicron) booster should keep most people from feeling sick if they are exposed to COVID-19.
All COVID-19 vaccines provide protection against hospitalization and death. Over time, however, the original formulations of the vaccines have grown less effective at preventing a person from feeling sick. That’s because the dominant strains of the virus are different than the ones that circulated early in 2020. This updated booster specifically targets omicron BA.4 and BA.5, which are the current dominant strains.
Q: How has the updated booster vaccine been tested for safety?
A: The updated booster vaccines use the same basic formula as the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines that have been carefully tested in humans. Over 500 million people in the United States have safely received these vaccines under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history.
The updated Moderna and Pfizer booster vaccines use the same ingredients as their other COVID-19 vaccines, with one change to one of the proteins to target the Omicron variants. These updated boosters will be monitored to see how effective the use of the different protein is at protecting against Omicron, as well as monitoring for safety.
Q: Why does the online registration form ask me for insurance information?
A: Despite what the registration form says, your insurance will not be billed for your COVID-19 vaccination. There is no charge for the vaccinations administered at our mass vaccination clinics. We apologize for any confusion. That part of the online registration form was not customizable.