HCHS offers additional COVID-19 vaccination for immunocompromised
 persons

 GARNER - Currently, additional vaccination doses for COVID-19 are available for certain immunocompromised individuals through Hancock County Health System’s Community Health Department. HCHS is waiting for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (AICP) and FDA to give final approval for healthier people to receive booster doses. 

The third dose is the same vaccination as the initial two doses and is available for those who are moderately to severely immunocompromised, including those who are:

•Active treatment for solid tumor and hematologic malignancies;

•Receipt of solid-organ transplant and taking immunosuppressive therapy;

•Receipt of CAR-T-cell or hematopoietic stem cell transplant;

•Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency;

•Advanced or untreated HIV; and

•Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids, alkylating agents, antimetabolites, transplant-related immunosuppressive drugs, cancer chemotherapeutic agents classified as severely immunosuppressive, tumor-necrosis blockers, and other biologic agents that are immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory. 

Fully vaccinated people with healthy immune systems or with conditions other than those listed, do not need another dose of the COVID-19 vaccination at this time. 

If you are eligible for the additional dose, please contact HCHS Community Health to get scheduled. They can be reached by calling their office, located at 545 State Street, Garner at: 641-923-3676.

Health and Human services public health and medical experts released a joint statement on the plan for COVID-19 booster doses for healthier Americans beginning on September 2021. But as mentioned previously, HCHS is waiting for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (AICP) and FDA to give final approval for healthier people to receive the proposed booster doses.  HCHS will keep you updated when information becomes available.

Initial evidence has shown over time vaccines provide less protection against mild and moderate COVID-19 disease in certain populations.  People at higher risk and who were vaccinated during the earlier phases of the vaccination rollout may require a booster dose to continue to have maximum protection the vaccines provide. 

If you need your first dose(s) of COVID-19 vaccine, HCHS Community Health has all three available. No wait time, no appointment necessary – just stop in the Community Health Office in Garner any Friday in October anytime from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you have questions, please call HCHS Community Health at 641-923-3676.