A nurse draws up the vaccine of the manufacturer Moderna against the coronavirus with a syringe in a posed situation a the vaccination centre in Bielefeld, Germany, Friday, April 16, 2021. (Friso Gentsch/dpa via AP)
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Department of Health is making ready to give out COVID-19 vaccine booster shots after receiving federal approval Wednesday.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced its approval along with other top health officials for the third dose. The booster will be for adults over 18 years old that have been fully vaccinated for at least eight months. The current plan is to start administered the follow-up shots the week of September 20.
“As a department, we’re still waiting on some formal guidance from the FDA and CDC,” said Rich Lakin, Utah Department of Health Immunization Program Manager. “Preparations are underway.”
Lakin told “Dave & Dujanovic” on KSL Newsradio there would probably not be a need for mass vaccination clinics like earlier in 2021.
“We currently have over 1,300 COVID vaccine providers that are already administering doses today, and we’re adding more every week,” Lakin explained.
While the health department awaits final guidance from federal regulators, Lakin said mixing vaccines probably wouldn’t be happening either. Meaning, those who were fully vaccinated with two doses of the Pfizer vaccine would get a booster of Pfizer eight months later. The same applies to the Moderna vaccine.
However, there are currently no plans for a follow-up shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Lakin said they are still waiting on more data and guidance.
The CDC issued approval for a third dose of the vaccine for people with compromised immune systems last week.