Arlington Public Health Clinics To Make Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters Available

ARLNGTON, VA — Boosters of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine will be available for eligible individuals by appointment only from Arlington County Public Health starting Tuesday, according to a release.

Public health made the decision to begin offering the boosters Monday to people at higher risk for contracting the disease based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“Vaccine has proven to be the single most effective strategy against reducing serious illness resulting in hospitalization or death and we are grateful that boosters as CDC recommends are now available to our eligible residents,” said Dr. Reuben K. Varghese, the county's health director.

The following guidance outlines who the CDC recommends should receive the Pfizer booster:

• People 65 years and older and residents 18 years and older in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer primary series;
• People 50-64 years old with underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer primary series;
• People 18-49 years old with underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer primary series;
• People 18-64 years old who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer primary series.

The recommendations only apply to people who have already received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The booster is not recommended at this time for people vaccinated with the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Pfizer booster doses will be available at Arlington's two vaccination clinics beginning Tuesday for any eligible person who books an appointment in advance. Residents may also make an appointment at a provider by searching for the Pfizer vaccine with their ZIP code at www.vaccines.gov.

Arlington Mill Community Center (909 S Dinwiddie St.)

• Saturday – Sunday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Monday – Friday, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Walter Reed Community Center (2909 16th St S.)

• Saturday – Sunday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Monday – Friday, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Arlington Public Health recommends the anyone 12 and over be vaccinated for COVID-19. While all boosters doses require an appointment, both of the county's clinics offer walk-in or scheduled appointments for the first and second doses of either the Moderna or Pfizer or single doses of Johnson & Johnson. Appointments can be made online. Individuals 18 and younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam provided an update on COVID-19 vaccinations on Monday as Pfizer booster shots are now recommended for more groups of people and vaccine authorization for children 5 to 11 is expected later in the fall.

On Friday, CVS Health began administering the Pfizer booster to eligible individuals who made appointment an appointment at one of its 163 pharmacies and health clinics in Virginia, including in Arlington.

Related:

Booster Shots, Vaccines For Children: Northam Updates Virginians

Pfizer COVID-19 Booster Now Available At 163 VA CVS Stores