Camden County Offers COVID-19 Boosters To Teens, 16 To 17
CAMDEN COUNTY, NJ — The Camden County Health Hub is now administering Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccination booster shots to children ages 16 and 17 following approvals by the federal government, county officials announced.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last week recommended expanded use of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 16 and 17 who were vaccinated at least six months ago, regardless of prior health conditions.
“This development is key in our fight against COVID-19,” Camden County Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. said. “Getting a booster shot just adds another layer of protection and with cases on the rise and the uncertainty of the Omicron variant, we need to do to make sure we are using the best tool science has to offer to stay safe and healthy.”
Federal officials have said the benefit of a single dose of the Pfizer booster outweigh the risks of myocarditis and pericarditis in people ages 16 and 17.Federal officials have said the benefit of a single dose of the Pfizer booster outweigh the risks of myocarditis and pericarditis in people ages 16 and 17.
This was initially determined in a study of about 200 participants ages 18 to 55, which the Food and Drug Administration said supports expanding the booster to children ages 16 and 17. Additional data supporting this conclusion later emerged, and post-authorization/post-marketing studies to assess known serious risks of myocarditis and pericarditis studies continue, the FDA said last week.
Everyone 18 and older has been eligible for booster shots since Nov. 19 regardless of prior health qualifiers. Adults can receive a booster six months after getting a second shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or two months after a Johnson & Johnson shot.
Only Pfizer has been authorized to provide booster shots for residents ages 16 and 17. Residents can visit covid19.nj.gov/finder to locate a vaccination site. Read more here: COVID Booster Shots Now Available For More NJ Teens
“We know that COVID-19 does not only impact adults, we’ve seen children and teenagers get sick as well,” Cappelli said. “So, it’s crucial that our young residents have all the protection they can possibly get when it comes to this virus. Parents, if your child is eligible for a booster, please take them to get it. Boosters are safe, effective and readily available at the Health Hub.”
The Camden County Health Hub is located at Camden County College, 200 College Drive in the Blackwood section of Gloucester Township. It offers first and second doses and booster shots on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Appointments can be made by visiting www.CamdenCountyVaccine.com.
As of Monday, there have been 65,301 coronavirus cases and 1,379 coronavirus-related deaths in Camden County since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020.
As of Monday, 372,423 Camden County residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 327,500 are fully vaccinated and 101,094 have received a third dose.
The county Health Department is continuing to closely track new cases of COVID-19 and information regarding the prevalence of the Delta variant. New cases are often reassigned to other municipalities over the course of an investigation.
This article originally appeared on the Gloucester Township Patch
