Somerset County Expanding Vaccine Booster Availability
SOMERVILLE, NJ – Somerset County is expanding its free booster COVID doses to include eligible 16- and 17-year-olds as part of its “Give Your Holiday a Boost” campaign after the FDA approved the booster vaccines for this cohort. These County clinics at the Senior Wellness Center in Bridgewater also offer first, second, and booster doses for adults, as do more than 60 additional providers throughout the County.
“I love the holidays and all the joy of getting together with my family, friends, and even strangers out at restaurants and public events, and to ensure I and everyone I celebrate with is safe I’ve gotten my COVID booster shot,” said Commissioner Doug Singleterry, liaison to the Somerset County Department of Health. “With the Omicron variant coming to NJ, I encourage all eligible residents to stop by a County COVID vaccination clinic or other provider to be as protected as possible and ‘Give Your Holidays a Boost’.”
The three approved COVID vaccines are proven to be safe and effective in reducing the chances of contracting COVID and preventing severe illness. Currently less than 30 percent of the state is unvaccinated, yet the unvaccinated represent more than 75 percent of hospitalized COVID patients. These numbers demonstrate that vaccinations significantly reduce the odds of contracting COVID, and result in less severe symptoms if there is a breakthrough case.
The Somerset County Department of Health is holding vaccination clinics on Mondays and Wednesdays in December at the Senior Wellness Center in Bridgewater from 4:00 to 7:30pm. Residents may receive first, second, or booster Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines at theses clinics, with no appointment necessary:
· 1st and 2nd doses of Pfizer (12 years and older) and Moderna (18 years and older). Individuals 12-17 years old must have parental or legal guardian consent and a parent or guardian present during vaccination.
· Third (additional) doses to eligible individuals who are moderately to severely immunocompromised.
· Booster doses to individuals 18 years and older who received 2 doses of their initial series of Pfizer or Moderna at least 6 months ago or received Janssen (J&J) at least 2 months ago. Residents who are eligible for a booster vaccination may receive any of the three approved vaccines as a booster, but Somerset County’s Senior Wellness Center Clinic only administers Pfizer and Moderna.
There are also more than 60 partner providers in all corners of the County where booster shots are available, and the County Senior Wellness Center clinic also provides Pfizer vaccines for 5- to 11-year olds this Friday, December 17, from 4-7:30 p.m. More information on County and partner provider sites is available at http://soconj.gov/vaxclinics.
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