Booster Doses Available at the Health Department for COVID-19 Vaccines

NEW CITY, NY, - Rockland County Executive Ed Day and County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert announce that a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose is available at our COVID-19 vaccine clinics. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that certain people should get a booster dose 6 months after their completed vaccine series (2nd dose) of Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech, and everyone 18+ should get a booster dose at least 2 months after their Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Your booster dose should be given using the same vaccine type received for your initial vaccine series. If the same vaccine type used for your initial series is not readily available, or a different COVID-19 vaccine is desired, any FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine can be used for the booster dose, according to FDA and CDC guidance.

The Rockland County Department of Health (RCDOH) continues to offer COVID-19 vaccination clinics several times a week offering only one type of COVID-19 vaccine per clinic. Clinics are for anyone needing any dose; first, second, third dose, or booster vaccine to those who qualify.

To make an appointment at the RCDOH visit, http://rcklnd.us/covid19. At this time, all Moderna third dose and booster clinics are by appointment only; no walk-ins are allowed. For all other COVID-19 vaccine clinics, walk-ins are allowed; pre-registration for an appointment is strongly encouraged as there may be a wait. If you have health insurance, please bring your benefit card with you. The vaccine is free; however, the health department can collect an administrative fee from insurance plans. All are welcome regardless of immigration status.

For individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at 6 months or more after their primary vaccine series (i.e., the first 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine):

65 years and older

Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings

Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions

Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings

CDC recommends that anyone 18 years and older who got the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, should receive an additional booster dose at least 2 months after their first dose.

Please bring your vaccination card with you to your appointment or show your excelsior pass. People can talk to their healthcare provider about whether getting a COVID-19 booster shot and which vaccine is appropriate for them.

"In following guidance from CDC and NYSDOH, our Health Department staff continues to help provide booster doses to certain vulnerable people who completed their COVID-19 primary vaccine series. We can provide these individuals with the extra protection needed against COVID-19. For those who have not yet gotten vaccinated, please get vaccinated now to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Getting vaccinated remains the best way to protect yourself, reduce the spread of COVID-19, and help prevent new variants from emerging," said Rockland County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert.

For individuals looking for the Johnson and Johnson vaccine booster and additional COVID-19 vaccine providers, visit the New York State Am I Eligible webpage or Vaccines.gov to find additional vaccination sites near you. You can also check your local pharmacy's website to see if vaccination walk-ins or appointments are available. For questions, more information, or if you need assistance scheduling a COVID-19 vaccine appointment, call 845-238-1956 from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday – Friday (except holidays).

For more information on a vaccine booster dose, visit https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/booster-doses.