SOMERSET COUNTY TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL, THIRD COVID VACCINE DOSES TO MODERATELY OR SEVERELY IMMUNOCOMPROMISED INDIVIDUALS

Somerset County to Provide Additional, Third COVID Vaccine Doses to Moderately or Severely Immunocompromised Individuals

First Clinic Providing Third Dose to Be Held in Bound Brook on Mon, Aug 16

Post Date: 08/13/2021 8:30 PM

SOMERVILLE, NJ – The Somerset County Department of Health (SCDoH) is coordinating with local health departments to ensure eligible Somerset County residents have access to a third COVID vaccine dose through fixed and mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinics in compliance with updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommendations issued this afternoon.

“Somerset County is committed to doing everything we can to protect our residents from COVID-19 and welcome the opportunity to administer third doses of vaccine to those with compromised immune systems as recommended by the CDC and FDA,” said Somerset County Commissioner Doug Singleterry, liaison to the SCDoH. “We will also continue to provide vaccinations at our Senior Wellness Center and mobile clinics for walk in residents looking to be vaccinated as well, including students as young as 12 years old.”

The Somerset County Department of Health will begin administering third doses beginning on Monday, August 16 to eligible individuals who live in Somerset County;

• Monday, August 16 from 9am to 1pm at the Bound Brook Community Center – 200 Thompson Avenue, Bound Brook (Only third doses will be administered)
• Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays from 4pm to 7:30pm – Bridgewater Senior Wellness Center – 876 East Main Street, Bridgewater (first, second and third doses will be administered)

Individuals must bring proof of vaccination and Somerset County residency to receive a third dose. Individuals must be 12 years or older for an additional Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 dose, and 18 years or older for an additional Moderna COVID-19 dose. Subsequent third dose clinics will be listed at http://www.co.somerset.nj.us/vaxclinics.

The CDC issued a recommendation this afternoon for the distribution of third doses of COVID-19 vaccine for individuals with moderately to severely compromised immune systems. Earlier this week the FDA amended the emergency use authorizations for Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to allow for an additional dose in this target population, a third shot, to the current two-dose series. Per the CDC, eligible individuals should receive a third dose of the same vaccine, at least 28 days after the second dose.

With the Delta variant causing more infections and spreading faster than earlier forms of the coronavirus (COVID-19), an additional dose could help to increase the protection for individuals who have weakened immune systems. Adults of any age who are immunocompromised may be at increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for and can be administered to most people with compromised immune systems. If you have any questions about getting the third dose of COVID-19 vaccine, speak with your healthcare provider for advice.

Currently, the CDC and FDA are not recommending additional doses of COVID-19 vaccine for individuals who are otherwise healthy, and the Somerset County Department of Health will follow this guidance.

The best way to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus is by taking measures to protect yourself and family, including being vaccinated with an approved vaccine. In addition to being vaccinated, public health officials continue to encourage residents to follow everyday healthy habits. The following interventions are among the best ways to prevent the spread of coronavirus and other respiratory diseases:

• Wear a mask in indoor settings if two years or older in areas of substantial or high transmission, regardless of vaccination status;
• Maintain distance from others – two arm’s length apart;
• Avoid crowds;
• Wash hands frequently with soap and water, and for at least 20 seconds;
• Cover coughs and sneezes;
• Monitor health daily and stay home when sick.

Since information on COVID-19 is being updated regularly, it is important to stay up to date by following trusted public health sources of information such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov, the New Jersey Department of Health at www.nj.gov/health and the Somerset County Department of Health at www.co.somerset.nj.us/health.

The Somerset County Department of Health is the lead agency for public health emergency preparedness and response in Somerset County. Funding for these activities is provided by the CDC’s Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement through the New Jersey Department of Health.

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