Booster Shots Added To Latest Vernon Vaccine Clinic

VERNON, CT — Priority Urgent Care of Ellington and the town of Vernon have scheduled a coronavirus vaccination and booster shot clinic for Friday.

The clinic is slated for 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Center 374 at 375 Hartford Turnpike in Vernon. The clinic is open to all people who are eligible to be vaccinated.

People can receive first or second doses of the vaccine or booster shots. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines
will be available. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine will not be available, but anyone who initially received
the Johnson & Johnson vaccine (two or more months ago) can receive a Moderna or Pfizer booster.

Those seeking a vaccine are reminded to bring their vaccination cards with them to the clinic.

To make an appointment, please visit the Town of Vernon website: www.vernon-ct.gov/covid-19/clinics.

Walk-ins are welcome, however, people who have scheduled appointments take priority.

"After the success of our nationally-recognized community vaccination program, we kept hearing from people
asking about booster shots," Vernon Mayor Daniel Champagne said. “This clinic is open to anyone that is eligible and who chooses to be vaccinated or receive a booster shot.”

Priority Urgent Care will oversee and operate the clinic. The town of Vernon will provide logistical support and
other assistance.

"Earlier this year we saw a need to serve our community with COVID-19 vaccine and we stood up a robust
vaccination program," Vernon Town Administrator and Emergency and Risk Management Director Michael
Purcaro said. "Now that boosters have been authorized for all three COVID-19 vaccines, we are seeing an
increased demand for vaccine and are taking steps to once again help meet the needs of the community."

Receiving a COVID-19 vaccination "continues to be the best way to protect yourself, your family and your
community from COVID-19," said Dr. Daksh Rampal of Priority Urgent Care.

"People who are fully vaccinated continue to have strong protection against hospitalization and death from COVID-19, but immunity against infection can wane over time, especially with highly contagious variants," Rampal said. "Booster shots will help us shore up protection for those who are at-risk and who were vaccinated months ago."

People who received the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are eligible to receive booster shots if they were
vaccinated more than six months ago and fall into one of four categories:

• 65 years of age 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

Rampal said for people who received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are recommended for those who are 18 years of age and older and who were vaccinated two or more months ago. The Moderna and Pfizer
vaccines will be available as boosters to those who initially received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, he said.

People with insurance will be asked to present their insurance cards, but will not be billed beyond what their
insurance pays. People without insurance will not be turned away.

For more information about COVID-19 boosters, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/media/rele...