Clinic staffing, hours and brands expanding
With the potential approval for booster doses on the horizon, Wake County Public Health is making changes to ensure the community continues to have no-cost and easy access to COVID-19 vaccinations. Starting Monday, Sept. 20, all five permanent vaccine locations in the county are adding staff, expanding hours and offering both Pfizer/Comirnaty and Moderna.
Another important change for the public: all vaccinations will require appointments beginning Monday. Temporarily ending walk-ins and moving to only appointments will allow slots to be reserved for those seeking first and second doses, those with weakened immune systems needing additional doses, and those seeking booster doses.
Outside of the additional doses recommended for immunocompromised patients, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend booster doses for any vaccine brands at this time. However, the Food & Drug Administration is meeting today to examine new data submitted by Pfizer on its booster clinical trials. If that FDA panel approves booster doses for certain populations, the CDC would still need to convene its own panel to review those recommendations, likely next week. Wake County Public Health would await additional clinical guidance for administering booster doses from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services and then immediately open appointment slots for those eligible for booster doses. Again, only booster doses for those who received Pfizer vaccines are being considered at this time.
“Wake County stands ready for this next phase in our fight against COVID-19,” said Matt Calabria, Chair of the Wake County Board of Commissioners. “We’re making sure everyone has easy access to these life-saving doses.”
While booster appointments will not be available until all federal and state entities approve, residents can make appointments today with the new, expanded vaccine schedule for first or second doses, or the additional shots for anyone who is immunocompromises. Appointments are available at WakeGov.com/vaccine or by calling the NC COVID-19 Vaccine Help Center at 888-675-4567.
Wake County’s Northern Regional Center in Wake Forest and Southern Regional Center in Fuquay Varina have only been administering Moderna at their vaccine clinics, so staff are excited to add Pfizer/Comirnaty to their offerings. Pfizer is still the only vaccine brand authorized for those 12-17 years old.
Why are booster shots being considered? Does that mean the vaccines aren’t working? No. COVID-19 vaccines are working very well to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death. However, with the Delta variant, public health experts are starting to see reduced protection against mild and moderate disease.
Residents are encouraged to take time NOW to locate their vaccine cards. They’ll be needed for appointments. For those who can’t locate their card – vaccine records can be found here. Please remember, Wake County Public Health is not the only vaccine provider in Wake County - there are more than 200 providers administering doses in the county right now. The public is encouraged to seek out the closest and most convenient locations because vaccine recipients do not need to go back to the provider who administered their first or second shot.
