Certain people are now eligible to receive a Pfizer booster shot to help increase their protection against the worst effects of the coronavirus, according to the FDA.
People who received two Pfizer shots at least six months ago and who are 65 and over, or a nursing home or assisted living resident, are advised to get the booster. Those ages 50 to 64 with a long list of risky health problems including cancer, diabetes, asthma, HIV infection and heart disease, are also recommended to get the booster.
The CDC says these people may get a booster, but stopped short of a full recommendation, if they are ages 18 to 49 and have risky health problems based on their individual benefits and risks. Anyone 18 to 64 with a risky job, such as health care, can also consider boosters.
Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccine boosters have not yet been decided, as of Tuesday.
For Mike Charley, Skokie’s Health and Human Services director, he continues to await more news around the Moderna vaccine and other groups recommended for the booster.
Skokie operates its own health department outside of the Cook County department, a rarity for area suburbs.
He said the village will be prepared as early as Sept. 29 to administer booster shots to people who qualify.
“All we can do is stay abreast of what’s going on,” he said. “We plan for it. We plan and we drill. Whatever they do we’ll be ready to turn it around. We’ll do everything we can to make sure Skokie residents have access to the vaccine.”
Skokie has administered more than 28,000 COVID-19 vaccines. As of Sept. 21, Skokie had recorded 7,176 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 6,946 recovered or recovering, 96 currently ill and 138 deceased, according the village’s online data.
“We’ve ebbed and flowed and done what we had to do to adjust quickly to be as efficient as possible,” Charley said. “One important thing we have to do in the Health and Human Services department is to stay up to date on the news and the guidance from the CDC and IDPH because it does change every day.”
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Skokie’s heath department will notify individuals that received their prior two doses through the village’s clinics via email when they qualify for a third dose booster, according to the village newsletter. Individuals will then be invited to register for an upcoming booster dose clinic.
Residents who did not receive their first two doses through Skokie are encouraged to reach out to their original vaccine provider to acquire their booster dose, the newsletter said.
“I trust the science,” Charley added. “The vaccine is effective. The greater percentage of our population that gets the vaccine the less likely we’re going to have variants of concern.”
Brian L. Cox is a freelance reporter. The Associated Press contributed.