Town of Beaufort issued the following announcement on Aug. 19.
On Friday, August 20, the Carteret County Health Department will provide a no-cost additional dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to people who self-attest to having a moderately or severely weakened immune system and who have previously received two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Documentation of a qualifying condition is not a requirement, but participants must bring documentation of their first and second vaccinations in order to receive the additional shot.
Eligible individuals for the additional dose should have one or more of the following conditions or treatments:
• Active treatment for solid tumor and hematologic malignancies
• Receipt of solid-organ transplant and taking immunosuppressive therapy
• Receipt of CAR-T-cell or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (within 2 years of transplantation or taking immunosuppression therapy)
• Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g., DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
• Advanced or untreated HIV infection
• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids (i.e., ≥20mg prednisone or equivalent per day), alkylating agents, antimetabolites, transplant-related immunosuppressive drugs, cancer chemotherapeutic agents classified as severely immunosuppressive, tumor-necrosis (TNF) blockers, and other biologic agents that are immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory.
These additional doses are not considered booster doses, but are additional doses of the vaccine intended to increase the protection for individuals who are immunocompromised and may need an additional dose to be protected from COVID-19. The additional dose is administered at least 28 days after the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. This does not apply to those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The health department only has the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine available at this time.
“Carteret County residents who are immunocompromised should speak with their doctor to determine the best course of action,” said County Health Director, Nina Oliver. “The COVID-19 vaccine is the best protection against the virus and an additional dose will help most people with compromised immune systems from developing severe illness from the virus.”
In the meantime, Oliver continued to urge unvaccinated Carteret County residents to get their first dose and for those due a second dose to not delay. The Delta variant, which is more contagious, continues to account for the vast majority of new infections.
“Vaccines are highly effective and is the best way to get us out of this pandemic,” Oliver said. “Get vaccinated now to prevent getting sick and passing the virus to others, especially people who are most vulnerable to the disease.”
The health department continues to provide the COVID-19 vaccine free of charge to anyone 12 years of age or older who hasn’t yet received it. To make a vaccination appointment for any dose, contact 252-728-8550, option 2, or find other providers at myspot.nc.gov.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Town of Beaufort
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