|
|
Cook County Public Health and Human Services and the Minnesota Department of Health have scheduled additional Bivalent COVID-19 booster clinics for those ages five and older at the:
Cook County Community Center on Sunday, November 6 and November 13 from 9 a.m.- 1 p.m.
Lutsen Town Hall on Tuesday, November 8 from 3:15 p.m.- 6:15 p.m.
Birch Grove Community School on Friday, November 11 from 3:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. (please do not arrive early to give space for school pick-up and buses).
All events will offer walk-in registration. However, if you wish to register prior to the events, you can do so on the Cook County COVID-19 response hub site at cookcountycovid19.org or by calling Public Health and Human Services at 218-387-3620 for assistance registering over the phone.
These events will have both the bivalent adult and pediatric Pfizer boosters available. These are approved and recommended even if you received Moderna or the J&J vaccine in the past. There will not be flu vaccines offered at these events. Grand Portage Health Services will not be offering the COVID-19 bivalent booster vaccine at this time.
At this point, everyone ages five and older are recommended to receive a COVID-19 bivalent booster two months after either their primary COVID-19 vaccination series or their last booster. The updated bivalent booster helps protect against the original COVID-19 strain as well as against newer Omicron variants. Omicron variants are now responsible for almost all local COVID-19 cases.
“These boosters strengthen your immune system to help keep both you and those around you healthier and better protected from becoming severely ill with COVID-19,” state Grace Grinager, Cook County Public Health Supervisor.
Locally, although 88% of people in Cook County have received their primary COVID-19 vaccination series only 17% are up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations. Currently the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Community Level lists Cook County as being in the “high” category.
“Getting your COVID-19 bivalent booster, staying home when you are sick, continuing to test for COVID- 19 if you have symptoms, following isolation guidelines if you test positive, and wearing a mask if you have been recently exposed to COVID-19 or are attending a large indoor gathering are all ways to help lessen the burden of COVID-19 in our community and lower your risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19,” adds Grinager. “We’re hoping that these evening and weekend vaccination events throughout the County can help us better meet the demand for vaccination and help us better prepare for what could be a challenging season for respiratory illnesses.”
Leave a Reply