Some area residents who’ve already received their first dose of the COVID vaccine may be waiting a while to get their second shot.
Health Alliance CEO Lori Marshall says they’ve been given the directive to hold off on delivering the so-called booster dose for up to four months.
“For anyone who has received their vaccine in the last number of weeks and they may have been scheduled for a second dose, or it may have been they’ve been given a phone number to reschedule for that second dose,” Marshall says. “Anybody who has not received that second dose, the intent is that is going to be rescheduled for some point at the four month mark.
Marshall says while many are anxious to get their second shot, the general consensus is that first dose carries the majority of protection against the effects of COVID-19.
There are some exceptions, however.
“Anybody who’s a resident of long term, retirement homes, or Elder Care lodges or assisted living, those individuals will continue to receive their second dose as per the monograph.”
Chatham-Kent’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Colby has said the best way to think of the two shots is ‘strength vs length’ in terms of effectiveness.
