Stark County Health Department To Begin Administering Booster Dose Of The Pfizer-Biontech Vaccine At The Whipple-Dale Centre

Press release from the Stark County Government:

September 27, 2021

(Jackson Twp., OH) – On September 23, the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to approve booster doses for many Americans. On September 24, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) gave further direction on moving forward with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendation of booster doses at the local level. The Stark County Health Department will begin offering the booster doses of Pfizer-BioNTech at the Stark Board of Developmental Disabilities’ offices at the Whipple-Dale Centre beginning Friday, October 1. Booster clinics will be offered every Monday and Friday (excluding the Columbus Day holiday) from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Whipple-Dale which is located at 2950 Whipple Ave. NW, Canton, Ohio 44708. Appointments for the clinics will be open starting tomorrow at ArmorVax.com or by calling 330.451.1681. An appointment is required for a booster dose. Walk-ins will not be accepted. Once scheduled, residents should show up for their scheduled time with their driver’s license and health insurance card. Those without insurance will still receive their vaccination.

Only booster doses will be administered at these clinics. Those meeting the eligibility guidelines and having completed their second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination series at least 6 months ago, may schedule an appointment at this time. There will be multiple local providers for residents to receive their booster dose regardless of where they received their first and second dose in the event the department’s appointment availability fills up. Local providers can be located using gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov.

“These vaccines are our best defense against COVID-19 and its variants. It is important to remember that these vaccines have gone through the same safety process as any other vaccine. No corners were cut but more efforts were put towards finding a solution to this virus,” said Health Commissioner Kirkland Norris, RS, MPH.

It is not currently recommended that those who received Moderna or Johnson and Johnsons receive a booster dose of Pfizer-BioNTech. ODH has offered the following guidelines for those eligible to receive the booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine:

• People 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series.
• People ages 50 to 64 with certain underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot of Pfizer BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their PfizerBioNTech primary series.
• People ages 18 to 49 who are at high risk for severe COVID-19 due to certain underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.
• People ages 18-64 who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of PfizerBioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.

People in the recommended groups based on risk who received the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine may need a booster shot in the future. More data on the effectiveness and safety of these booster shots are expected in the coming weeks. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and CDC will review that data and make recommendations accordingly. Those eligible booster recipients will be asked to attest they have one of the qualifying conditions, but specific proof will not be required. ODH is advising that it may take eligible Ohioans 2-3 weeks to get their booster dose.

“We encourage all those meeting the eligibility guidelines to receive their booster dose of the vaccine for further assurance that your immune system can fight the virus if you are infected,” said Norris.

Residents seeking a COVID-19 vaccine first or second dose appointment (those 12 years of age and older) can schedule through ArmorVax.com and on the mobile app for Apple and Android devices on Tuesdays or Saturdays at the Stark County Health Department, 7235 Whipple Ave NW, in the Park Centre Plaza. Those that are minors, 12 to 17 year old’s, must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian to their vaccine appointment. The parent or legal guardian must sign a consent form upon checking in at the clinics. However, those that do not have access to a computer, internet or who have difficulty using ArmorVax, may still call the COVID Hotline at 330.451.1681 to schedule an appointment.

Click here to use these maps to plan your vaccine appointment visit at both the Stark County Health Department (1st or 2nd dose) or at the Whipple-Dale Centre (booster dose).

This press release was produced by the Stark County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.