COVID Vaccine Booster Shots Authorized In Loudoun County For Certain Vulnerable Groups

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — COVID-19 booster shots are now available in Loudoun County. The Loudoun County Health Department announced on Monday that they were authorized by the Virginia Department of Health to begin administering boosters of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Currently, booster shots are only authorized for people who received Pfizer's vaccine. The booster shots are also only available for certain groups.

The booster shots are available now at the health department's Dulles Town Center clinic. Vaccinations are available by appointment only.

Current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control recommends people get their booster at least six months after receiving the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Those who received the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines should await further guidance from the CDC.

"There’s no evidence that people who received the Moderna and J&J vaccines need a booster right now," said Loudoun County Health Director Dr. David Goodfriend. "We expect to learn more about boosters for other vaccine manufacturers in the coming weeks, so I encourage everyone who received a vaccine other than Pfizer to stay tuned for more information about boosters soon."

The booster shot is currently available to people who received both shots of the Pfizer vaccine at least six months ago, and fit into at least one of the following categories:

• People 65 years and older.
• Residents of long-term care facilities.
• People 18-64 years old with underlying medical conditions.
• People 18-64 years old who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional settings, such as, but not limited to, health care workers and caregivers for frail or immunocompromised people.

The health department said that residents will not have to show proof of risk to get their booster vaccine.

Officials also reminded residents that first and second shots of COVID-19 vaccines are available to everyone 12 years old or older. Third shots of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are available for people who are immunocompromised.

Residents can find more information and schedule a vaccine appointment on the county's website.