NARMC says booster shots available

North Arkansas Regional Medical Center announced Monday that booster shots will be available immediately following the announcement of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s amended emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

This amended EUA allows for use of a single booster dose in certain populations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provided the following recommendations for the populations who are now eligible to receive a booster dose:

• People 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series.

• People aged 50–64 years with *underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series.

• People aged 18–49 years with *underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.

• People aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting (healthcare workers are included) may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.

The FDA authorization, and CDC recommendation on boosters only applies to Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine recipients. Those who received Moderna or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines are not currently recommended to get a booster.

“Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster doses will be available at NARMC community vaccine clinics,” said Josh Maloney, pharmacy manager at NARMC. “The way to stop the spread of COVID-19 is to wear a mask, sanitize often, practice distancing and to get vaccinated.”

NARMC has announced community vaccination clinics to be held in the John Paul Hammerschmidt Conference Center on the North Arkansas College South Campus.

The clinics offer both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccinations. They are scheduled for 9-11:30 a.m. on Fridays, Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29.

To find out about an upcoming community vaccine clinic or to schedule an appointment, call 870-414-2021. The NARMC Vaccine Scheduling Call Center has a representative available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, a press release said.