The CDC authorized a COVID-19 booster shot for all moderately or severely immunocompromised residents who meet one of the qualifications on the attestation and those receiving the booster vaccination must sign the attestation along with the regular COVID-19 vaccine consent form at the time of the booster vaccination. The qualifications for a booster dose at this time are:
- Immune compromised due to undergone solid organ transplantation and taking immune suppressing medications
- Immune compromised due to active treatment for solid tumor and hematologic malignancies
- Immune compromised due to receipt of CAR-T cell or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (within 2 years of transplantation or taking immunosuppression therapy) · Moderate to severe primary immunodeficiency (eg., DiGeorge, Wiskott[1]Aldrich Syndromes)
- Immune compromised due to Advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Immune compromised due to “Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress immune response: high-dose corticosteroids (ie.,≥ 20 mg prednisone or equivalent per day), alkylating agents, antimetabolites, transplant-related immunosuppressive drugs, cancer chemotherapeutic agents classified as severely immunosuppressive, tumor[1]necrosis (TNF) blocker or other biologic agents that are immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory”
Like other doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are free of charge.
Individuals receiving a boost vaccination must wait a minimum of 28 days following their 2nd dose of either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine. It is recommended to receive the booster vaccine in the same vaccine you received in your original dose – such as those who originally received Pfizer should receive Pfizer as the booster, those that received Moderna as the original should receive Moderna as their booster. Individuals who received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine are not eligible for booster doses.
Those who want to receive the booster vaccination can call the Macon County Health Department with questions or to schedule an appointment at 660-395-4711. Bring your original COVID-19 vaccine card to the appointment and the booster dose information will be added to the card – we cannot replace lost cards.