Cook County Public Health and Human Services (PHHS) and Sawtooth Mountain Clinic (SMC) will follow updated recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for a booster shot of COVID-19 vaccines in certain populations.  Those eligible for a booster now include:

• Individuals who received the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine series 6 or more months ago AND are:
• 65 years or older
• 18+ and living in a long-term care setting
• 18+ with an underlying medical condition
• 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings

• Individuals who received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine two or more months ago

More details on eligibility can be found on the CDC website at: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/p1021-covid-booster.html

Additionally, those eligible for a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine are now able to choose which COVID-19 vaccine they receive as a booster.  The new CDC recommendation now allows for this type of mix-and-match vaccine dosing.

“These booster doses offer additional protection against COVID-19.  PHHS and SMC will be increasing the size of vaccination events in November and December in the Community Center to ensure that those eligible for booster doses are able to easily access them locally,” said Public Health Supervisor Grace Grinager. “We continue to encourage those who have not been vaccinated at all against COVID-19 to get vaccinated.  All three available vaccines work extremely well at reducing the risk of serious illness, hospitalization, and death—even against the Delta variant.”

Local vaccination opportunities and online registration continue to be available at the Cook County COVID-19 hub site at https://cookcountycovid19.org.  You can also call Cook County Public Health at 218-387-3605 for help registering over the phone.

Contact: 

Grace Grinager, Cook County Public Health Supervisor, [email protected], 218-387-3605 

Or Kate Surbaugh, Sawtooth Mountain Clinic CEO, [email protected], 218-387-2330