Here’s what new COVID booster authorization means for all adults around Charlotte
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 booster doses for all U.S. adults Friday.
Later in the day, an advisory panel for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention endorsed the move as well. Still later on Friday, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky signed off on it.
That final approval by Walensky was needed before health care providers around the Charlotte region could begin distributing COVID-19 booster doses.
Previously, booster doses of the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines were authorized for people ages 65 and older, people ages 18 through 64 at high risk for severe COVID-19 or people 18 through 64 with frequent institutional or occupational exposure to COVID-19.
Now that Walensky signed off, anyone age 18 and older will be able to get the booster dose of either Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after completing the two-dose series of Moderna or Pfizer. Or they can get a booster at least two months after getting the one-shot Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.
Most vaccine locations in the Charlotte area already offer booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines to currently eligible patients.
Health care providers have not yet announced when booster doses will be available for all adults at Mecklenburg County locations pending CDC authorization.
Earlier this month, the federal organizations expanded COVID-19 vaccine access to kids ages 5 through 11 for the first time. Previously, some vaccine sites have waited for additional guidelines from the state Department of Health and Human Services before expanding access to COVID-19 vaccine.
When the booster doses are widely available in Mecklenburg County, here’s how to make an appointment:
Novant Health
Anyone eligible for the vaccine or booster dose can schedule an appointment with Novant Health using a MyChart account or at GetVaccinated.org.
Atrium Health
Once the booster dose is available, eligible people can make appointments with Atrium Health through MyAtriumHealth or at AtriumHealth.org/COVID19Vaccine or by calling 704-468-8888.
Mecklenburg County Public Health vaccines for kids
Anyone eligible for the shots can make an appointment with Mecklenburg County online or by calling 980-314-9400. More details are available at www.MeckNC.gov/COVID-19.
StarMed Healthcare vaccines for kids
Patients can register online for vaccines or booster doses with StarMed, or by calling 980-445-9818.
Pharmacies and other locations
To find other COVID-19 vaccine locations, visit Vaccines.gov to search by ZIP code.
This story was originally published November 19, 2021 at 10:19 AM.
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