Brunswick County offers third doses of Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to immunocompromised community members beginning Aug. 24
MEDIA RELEASE
BOLIVIA, N.C. – Starting Tuesday, Aug. 24, Brunswick County Health Services will begin to administer additional third doses of the Pfizer and Moderna (mRNA) vaccines at its main vaccination clinic in Bolivia and pop-up vaccination clinics for moderately to severely immunocompromised people after an initial two-dose primary mRNA vaccine series only.
The CDC and FDA define an additional dose as a dose administered when the immune response following a primary vaccine series is likely to be insufficient for patients with weakened immune systems.
Currently, the CDC is recommending that moderately to severely immunocompromised people receive an additional dose. 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
Additional doses are not the same as boosters. Boosters are administered when the initial sufficient immune response to a primary vaccine series is likely to have waned over time. Boosters are not available to the general population at this time.
Appointments for an additional third dose are required for vaccinations at the main clinic. A select number of appointments are available between 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Book online or call the Public Health Call Line to schedule an appointment:
- Schedule online here
- Call the Public Health Call Line at 910.253.2339 (Open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding holidays)
Appointments are not required at the pop-up clinics. Find the latest details about upcoming pop-up clinics at brunswickcountync.gov/vaccines
The main vaccination clinic and any indoor COVID-19 pop-up clinics are considered clinical settings and will require everyone to wear masks or face coverings.
Individuals are required to self-attest to being moderately to severely immunocompromised when they arrive for their third dose. Additional third doses should be administered at least 28 days after the second dose.
The CDC recommends individuals receive the same version of the vaccine for their additional third dose as their first two doses.
I’m Not Immunocompromised. When Can I Get a Booster?
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is planning for future availability of booster vaccines of mRNA vaccines for the general population. Brunswick County will update the community when an official date is set to allow for boosters.
HHS also anticipates booster shots will likely be needed for people who received the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine. Administration of the J&J vaccine did not begin in the U.S. until March 2021, and the federal department expects more data on J&J in the next few weeks. HHS will keep the public informed with a timely plan for J&J booster shots as well.
More information about COVID-19 vaccines is at brunswickcountync.gov/vaccines
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Media Inquiries
For media inquiries, contact the Communications Director at 910.253.2995 or email meagan.kascsak@brunswickcountync.gov