Booster doses begin this week

Vermonters 65+ and 18+ with underlying medical conditions or who work in certain occupational settings are eligible

Staff report

Vermonters 75 years of age and older are now eligible to schedule and receive Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine booster doses. Registration started Monday, Sept. 27. Beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 29, that eligibility expands to any Vermonters 70 years of age and older, and then to people aged 65 and older on Friday, Oct. 1.

Additionally, starting on Friday, those aged 18 to 64 with underlying medical conditions or who work in certain occupational settings will become eligible for boosters. The state is awaiting guidance from the CDC on what underlying medical conditions and/or occupational settings make individuals eligible for booster shots. That guidance is expected from the CDC later this week.

The governor initially announced the expansion of booster eligibility, Friday, Sept. 24, along with the Agency of Human Services and the Dept. of Health. That day Vermonters 80 years of age and older became eligible to schedule and receive boosters.

The announcements follows the Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) expanded emergency use authorization for the Pfizer vaccine, to permit a third booster shot to be administered 6 months after certain individuals received their second dose.

Currently only Vermonters who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine previously will be eligible to receive a booster shot dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. It is expected that expanded booster shots will be approved for both Moderna and Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine recipients in the coming weeks.

When you are eligible, you can get your third dose anywhere that offers the Pfizer vaccine — a Health Department clinic, pharmacy, or health care provider. Find a map of locations at healthvermont.gov/MyVaccine.

To register through the Health Department website:

• Visit healthvermont.gov/MyVaccine and click the “make an appointment” button.
• Make sure you have the information you need to log into your account ahead of time.
• If you have not previously been vaccinated through the state registration system, need assistance or speak a language other than English, call 855-722-7878.

You may not walk into these clinics without an appointment.

You will be asked if you fit the eligibility requirements. You will not be asked for proof but please bring your vaccine card.

More appointments will be added as more clinics open up, so check back if no appointments are available right away.

“We know that vaccination is the way we’ll beat this pandemic and ensuring as many Vermonters as possible are fully protected is essential,” said Governor Scott. “Vermonters have led the way in our vaccination efforts, and I’m confident they will continue to in this next phase.”

“Even though Covid-19 vaccines currently available in the United States are highly effective, a booster dose gives your body extra protection,” said Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD. “Getting vaccinated — and receiving a booster shot when you are eligible — is especially important as the world continues to face the Delta variant of the virus that causes Covid-19.”