For the Tomahawk Leader
MERRILL – The Lincoln County Health Department (LCHD) announced on Tuesday, Dec. 14 that it will host Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster clinics each Wednesday from Dec. 29 through Jan. 5.
The clinics will be held at LCHD, 801 N. Sales St., Merrill, from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day.
The boosters will be offered at no cost.
Pre-registration is required for the clinics. To pre-register, visit www.bit.ly/3yr4tlf or call LCHD at 715-539-1375.
Face masks will be required at the clinics, and children ages 16 and 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
“Our booster clinics have been well-received and continue to fill up quickly,” said Jennifer Johnson, MSN, RN, and Public Health Nurse for LCHD. “We wanted to offer additional clinics to help meet the current demand, especially with the recent recommendation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for 16- and 17-year-olds to get their booster dose.”
“A booster shot is now recommended for anyone 16 years and older, if it has been at least six months after their second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or at least two months after their original dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine,” LCHD stated.
LCHD said the COVID-19 vaccines continue to be highly effective in reducing risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death, but scientists are starting to see reduced protection against mild and moderate illness, especially in people ages 65 years and older.
“The continued circulation of the Delta variant and the emergence of the Omicron variant emphasize the importance of vaccination, boosters, and preventive efforts to protect against COVID-19,” LCHD stated.
Booster doses are common for many vaccines, LCHD noted.
“The scientists and medical experts who developed the COVID-19 vaccines continue to closely watch for signs of decreased immunity, how well the vaccine protects against new mutations of the virus, and how that data differs across age groups and risk factors,” LCHD stated.
To learn more about vaccine boosters, visit www.bit.ly/328dvYl.
To find other vaccination sites, visit www.vaccines.gov.