March 31, 2022

PRESS RELEASE

Click here to view a Spanish translation of this press release. 

Contact: Bonnie Obremski, COVID-19 Communications Specialist for Jefferson County Public Health: bobremski@co.jefferson.wa.us

Second Booster Dose Now Offered to People 50 and Older

JEFFERSON COUNTY—A fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for people aged 50 and older is now available following authorization by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and approval by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

“A fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose is safe and may offer additional protection to those at high risk of severe disease,” Dr. Allison Berry, Health Officer for Jefferson and Clallam counties said following the announcement earlier this week. “However, the data to support the universal need for a fourth dose for all people aged 50 and older is currently limited.”

Dr. Berry went on to say available data does continue to show three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death due to the virus. 

Jefferson County Public Health still recommends the following pandemic safety precautions:

• Get vaccinated and boosted
• Wear a high-quality mask in public, indoor settings when case rates are high
• Get tested right away if you develop symptoms of COVID-19
• Contact your medical provider for early treatment if you are at risk for severe disease 

The CDC’s updated booster options are as follows:

• A second booster dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) may be administered to individuals 50 years of age and older at least 4 months after receipt of a first booster dose of any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine. 
• A second booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine may be administered to individuals 12 years of age and older with certain kinds of immunocompromise at least 4 months after receipt of a first booster dose of any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine. These are people who have undergone solid organ transplantation, or who are living with conditions that are considered to have an equivalent level of immunocompromise. 
• A second booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine may be administered at least 4 months after the first booster dose of any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine to individuals 18 years of age and older with the same certain kinds of immunocompromise. 
• Additionally, based on newly published data, adults who received a primary vaccine and booster dose of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months ago may now receive a second booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. 

Pharmacies may need some time to prepare before beginning to administer second booster doses. Please contact your pharmacy ahead of time before walking in for a second booster dose. At this time, no mass vaccination clinics are scheduled in Jefferson County.