Here’s The Plan For COVID Booster Shots In Essex County – Patch

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — When coronavirus vaccines rolled out in New Jersey, Essex County was among the first to launch its own vaccine sites. Now, the county is on the edge of a COVID-19 sea change yet again: booster shots.

On Friday, officials announced that Essex County will be administering booster vaccinations for people with “compromised immune systems.”

Booster shots will be given by appointment only beginning on Saturday, Aug. 14. Vaccines will be given at the county’s two operational sites in Newark and West Orange. Appointments can be made at EssexCOVID.org or 973-877-8456.

To accommodate the administration of the booster shots, the hours of operation at both sites are being expanded to six days a week from Mondays to Saturdays. The centers will now be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Read More: COVID Vaccines, Tests In Essex County (How To Get Yours)

Booster shots won’t be available at the mobile clinics or pop-up sites organized by Essex County, officials said.

The county’s announcement comes after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized an additional COVID-19 vaccine dose for certain immunocompromised people on Thursday.

The FDA authorization applies to the Pfizer and Moderna versions, which require two shots for full effectiveness. At this time, it only applies to a “small, vulnerable group” of immunocompromised people, such as those who have received organ transplants.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is scheduled to meet Friday to discuss booster shots.

“Essex County has been administering vaccines since December 2020, and we are prepared to administer the booster shots,” County Executive Jospeh DiVincenzo Jr. said.

“Just like our original vaccination process, we will administer booster shots by appointment only, and we are committed to making getting a booster shot as easy and efficient as possible,” DiVincenzo said.

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