Mesa County Public Health (MCPH) continues to offer appointments for COVID-19 vaccination and is now offering immediate scheduling for additional COVID-19 doses as well as booster doses for those populations who qualify. The online appointment scheduling system allows patients to choose which vaccine type they receive, as allowed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In Mesa County, 53% of eligible residents have received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. In total, more than 128-thousand doses of vaccine have been administered. We are well on our way to ending the pandemic, but more work must be done especially as we enter the colder-weather months where indoor activities are more common and respiratory viruses can spread.
The COVID-19 vaccines continue to be remarkably effective in reducing the risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death, including against the delta variant. CDC data show that in August 2021, the risk of dying from COVID-19 in the U.S. was more than 11 times greater for unvaccinated people than for fully vaccinated people.
Many people who have already been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 should now receive another dose to stay protected. If you are eligible, getting a booster dose can help protect you, your family, and your community from COVID-19. You should get a booster dose if you:
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Are 65 years old or older.
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Live in a long-term care facility.
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Are 18 to 64 years old and at high risk of severe COVID-19.
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Are 18 to 64 years old and at high risk because of where you live or work.
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You received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for your initial dose.
The timeline for when a booster dose should be administered is as follows:
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If you received Pfizer or Moderna for your first two doses you should receive your booster dose at least six months after your second dose of vaccine, no matter what vaccine product you receive as a booster.
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If you received Johnson & Johnson for your initial dose, you should receive your booster dose at least two months after your first dose, no matter what vaccine product you receive as a booster.
Booster doses are common for many vaccines. The scientists and medical experts who developed the COVID-19 vaccines continue to closely watch for signs of waning immunity, how well the vaccines protect against new mutations of the virus, and how that data differ across age groups and risk factors.
Vaccination occurs at the Community Services Building, located at 510 29 ½ Road, with appointments available Wednesday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Mobile clinics are also being offered to make vaccination as quick and convenient as possible. View the schedule of upcoming mobile clinics here.
If you are unable to complete online scheduling or prefer to make an appointment over the phone call 970-248-6900. Individuals who are more comfortable communicating in Spanish should call the Mesa County Public Health Spanish-language line at 970-255-3700.
Stay up to date by visiting health.mesacounty.us.