Grant County Follows State to Immediately Offer Booster COVID-19 Shots

The Grant County Health District says it’s now offering COVID-19 booster shots.

The Washington State Department of Health immediately began offering booster doses of the Pfizer vaccine Friday following federal and western state recommendations.  

People 65 and over who completed their vaccinations six months ago can now get the shots, as can people in nursing homes as well as those with health conditions, or those working in high-risk jobs.   

The Grant County Health District says it has plenty of doses for anyone who needs one and is offering them at all its vaccination clinics countywide.

“COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective in reducing the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death, even against new variants,” said Theresa Adkinson, Grant County Health District Administrator.

The recommendations came from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices (ACIP), and Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup.

A breakdown of people eligible for the booster vaccine is below:

At least six months after completing the primary Pfizer vaccine series, the following individuals should receive a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine:

People 65 years of age and older,

People 18 years of age and older living in a long-term care setting, and

People 50 – 64 years of age with underlying medical conditions or those at increased risk of social inequities.

Additionally, the following individuals who completed a Pfizer vaccine series at least six months ago may receive a Pfizer booster dose:

People who are 18 – 49 years of age with underlying medical conditions, and

People 18 – 64 years of age who are at higher risk of COVID-19 exposure and transmission due to their occupational or institutional setting.