• By Todd Luck
• Posted Monday, January 9, 2023

PUBLIC HEALTH TAKING WALK-UPS FOR FALL COVID-19 BOOSTER

Forsyth Public Health is taking walk-ups for the Fall COVID-19 booster shot that provides protection against omicron variants for individuals 5 and older who have finished their primary series or already had a booster dose, as long as its been two months since their last COVID shot. Walk-ups are also accepted for this season's flu shot, which can be received in the same visit as the COVID booster.

Children are also eligible for the booster if they’re 6 months to 5 years-old and it’s been two months since their last dose of the Moderna vaccine, or if they’re 6 months to 4 years-old and they’ve had two doses of the Pfizer vaccine and they’re ready for their third dose. The booster is not authorized for children in that age group who have completed their 3-dose Pfizer series.

COVID-19 vaccines, which have previously been based off the original COVID-19 strain, have been proven to greatly reduce the chances of serious illness from COVID-19. The updated COVID-19 boosters specifically target the more transmissible, immune-evading Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants and restore immunity that may have waned since previous COVID shots.

Vaccinations take place at the Health Department, 799 N. Highland Ave. Clinic hours are Monday-Wednesday 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. No appointment is needed.

Eligible individuals will be able to get their booster shot from participating health care providers, including local pharmacies, and do not need to get it from the same provider as their initial doses. It is safe to receive the COVID-19 booster at the same time as the influenza vaccine.