Essex County Getting Ready To Give COVID Booster Vaccines

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — If coronavirus vaccine booster shots are approved by federal authorities, Essex County is ready and willing to give them out, an official says.

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. released the following statement on Thursday:

“There has been reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are going to approve booster shots for people who have received a COVID-19 vaccine. Getting vaccinated is the best choice we all can make to keep our families safe and prevent the spread of the coronavirus, and we encourage everyone to get their shots. We are still awaiting guidance about the booster shots from the CDC and FDA. However, Essex County has been administering vaccines since December 2020 and we will be prepared to administer the booster shots when they are approved and become available. Just like our original vaccination process, we anticipate booster shots being administered by appointment only and we are committed to making getting a booster shot as easy and efficient as possible. We will share more information about the shots and process when we receive more information from the CDC and FDA.”

What’s the CDC’s current stance on booster shots? As of Thursday, the agency’s website read:

“A patient is considered fully vaccinated ≥2 weeks after a 2-dose mRNA COVID-19 vaccine series or ≥2 weeks after a single dose of Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. The need for and timing of COVID-19 booster doses have not been established. No additional doses are recommended at this time.”

However, according to a Reuters report, a CDC advisory panel is expected to meet on Friday to discuss booster doses as the United States deals with increasing cases from the delta variant.

• See related article: COVID Vaccines, Tests In Essex County: How To Get Yours
• See related article: COVID Spread Still 'Substantial' In Essex County

Essex County officials shared the following cumulative COVID-19 case and death totals on Thursday.

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