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The updated COVID-19 vaccine is now available in the Rockbridge area for everyone 6 months and older, regardless of how many vaccines and boosters they’ve already received.
“Think of it [like how] we have seasonal flu vaccines, and every year you get a seasonal flu vaccine. We’re in the same trajectory with the COVID-19 vaccines at this point,” Laura Lee Wight, the population health manager for the Central Shenandoah Health District, told The News-Gazette last week.
There are three brands of the vaccine available: Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax. Most people will only need one dose, but people who are immune-compromise or over the age of 65 may be eligible for additional doses if needed. Children under the age of 5 will also receive multiple doses, though how many depends on the brand they get (three doses of the Pfizer vaccine, two doses of Moderna).
Wight recommended that people consult with their doctors about which vaccine to get, but said that generally, “there’s really no preferential recommendation for one brand over the other. Just get whichever one you can get soonest.
“Obviously, if you’re advised differently by your doctor, then you should follow their recommendations,” she added.
The vaccine is available at the Lexington-Rockbridge County Health Department, as well as other pharmacies and medical care facilities. To find which locations have which vaccines, visit vaccines. gov or call 1 (800) 2320233. Once you’ve found a location, it is recommended to call and schedule an appointment to get the vaccine.
“Because the vaccine is commercialized now, it’s maybe not a quicker rollout like you would have seen previously,” Wight said. “We recommend that people make appointments for their vaccine, that they call ahead to make sure they have the vaccine in stock.
“People shouldn’t wait to get it,” she added. “If you’re able to, try to schedule an appointment soon. It would a good precaution to get it before the holiday season just to protect yourself and your family members.”
For most people, the vaccine will be covered by their health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid plans, and the CDC works with local health care centers through its Bridge Access Program to cover the cost for uninsured adults or adults whose insurance doesn’t cover the vaccine. Additionally, the
