Orange County Health News
September 29, 2021

Pfizer Booster Shots Available for
High-Risk Groups

To strengthen and extend protections against severe illness, North Carolinians at high risk for serious illness or exposure who have been fully vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine for six months or more can now receive a COVID-19 booster shot.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the Pfizer COVID-19 booster shot is recommended for individuals who have been fully vaccinated for six months or more with the Pfizer vaccine. People who are 65 years or older, 18 years or older with underlying medical conditions or work in a high-risk setting like healthcare workers, teachers and childcare providers or food workers are eligible in North Carolina.

Who is Eligible

CDC recommends the following groups should get a COVID-19 booster if they have previously been vaccinated against COVID-19 with the Pfizer vaccine:

people 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series;
people aged 50 to 64 with certain underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series;
people 18 to 49 who are at high risk for severe COVID-19 due to certain underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks; and
people aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.

"Pfizer boosters are now authorized for certain groups of individuals to extend the protection of vaccines against severe illness," said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. "If you are eligible, get your booster. If you aren’t vaccinated yet, don’t wait. The COVID-19 virus is more contagious than ever and we are seeing it attack the unvaccinated and make them very sick at an alarming rate."

Those eligible can find booster shots at their health care provider, pharmacies and other locations where COVID-19 vaccines are available. There is no need for people to go back to the location where they received their original vaccines — most COVID-19 vaccination locations can provide Pfizer boosters. Visit MySpot.nc.gov and check “Pfizer-BioNTech (age 12+)” to search locations and ensure Pfizer is available. The Orange County Health Department offers booster shots at both the Hillsborough and Chapel Hill walk-in clinics. Learn more at: www.orangecountync.gov/getyourshot.

If you have questions about whether to get a Pfizer booster, NCDHHS encourages you to talk to a medical professional to get their opinion. COVID-19 booster shots are different from the additional dose, also referred to as a third dose, that is recommended for certain immunocompromised people.

NCDHHS encourages everyone 12 and older to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and to continue to practice the 3 Ws — wear a mask, wait six feet apart and wash your hands or use hand sanitizer to protect yourself and others.

If you received the Moderna or J & J (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine, a booster shot is not recommended at this time.

Related Links

COVID-19 Additional Dose vs. Booster:
Know the Difference!

Above: Beauford Health Director, Jim Madson, helps explain the difference between COVID-19 3rd dose and booster shot.

Beginning Friday, October 1^st the Hillsborough location will host testing at the same times but at a
DIFFERENT LOCATION! The testing will now be held in the DSS parking lot at 113 Mayo St., Hillsborough

Orange County Continues to Have a Mask Mandate

Environmental Health's Moira Beck explains the mandate in this video FAQ:
https://youtu.be/Wlt07S7Rr9

Free COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics

Vaccines are free, and no ID is required! If you are coming for your second dose, please bring your vaccination card with the record of your first dose. Visit our COVID-19 Vaccine page for the most up-to-date information: www.orangecountync.gov/getyourshot.

***Need a third shot because you are immunocompromised?***
Visit our Chapel Hill location Monday through Friday from
8:30am - 4:30pm at 2501 Homestead Rd. The Hillsborough location is not currently offering third shots.

Pop-Up Walk-In Vaccine Clinics

In addition to our regularly scheduled walk-in clinics (see graphic above), the Orange County Health Department is pleased to offer pop-up vaccine clinics to all community members ages 12 and older. No registration required, these are walk-in clinics.

Notting Hill Apartments
100 Drew Ln., Chapel Hill, NC
Friday, October 1st from 9:00 am - 3:00pm
Flyers: English/Español

Efland Seafood Festival
3009 Forrest Ave, Efland, NC 27243
Friday, October 1st, 2021 from 3pm-9pm
Satuday, October 2nd, 2021 from 11am-7pm
Flyers: English/Español

Orange High School
500 Orange High School Rd., Hillsborough, NC
Saturday, October 2nd from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Flyers: English/Español

Farmer's Market Pavilion in Hillsborough (next to the Courthouse)
140 E. Margaret Lane, Hillsborough, NC
Wednesday, October 6th from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Flyers: English, Español

Farmer's Market Pavilion in Hillsborough (next to the Courthouse)
140 E. Margaret Lane, Hillsborough, NC
Wednesday, October 13th from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Flyers: English, Español

Last Fridays (at the old Courthouse in Hillsborough)
104 E. King St., Hillsborough, NC
Friday, October 29th from 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Flyers: English/Español

Farmer's Market Pavilion in Hillsborough (next to the Courthouse)
140 E. Margaret Lane, Hillsborough
Wednesday, November 3 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Flyers: English, Español

Farmer's Market Pavilion in Hillsborough (next to the Courthouse)
140 E. Margaret Lane, Hillsborough
Wednesday, November 10 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Flyers: English, Español

Hillsborough Walk-In Clinic Location Change on October 5^th!
The clinic will be located at the new Bonnie B. Davis Building at
1020 U.S. 70, Hillsborough. This is directly across the street from the DMV.

New Hours: 9 am to 4:30 pm.
Start Date: 10/5/2021
Days of the week: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays
Vaccine type: Moderna and Pfizer

North Carolina COVID-19 Cases

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) reports 1,390,489 COVID-19 cases, 16,444 deaths, and 3,010 hospitalizations. 53% of North Carolina's population is fully vaccinated.

There are currently 11,154 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 107 deaths in Orange County. 80% of Orange County residents are fully vaccinated.

For more information regarding live updates (NCDHHS updates the site every day around noon), please visit the NCDHHS website.

Orange County Health Department also has a COVID-19 dashboard webpage, with information on COVID-19 data in the county.

Learn more about the vaccine for COVID-19

Click here to register for your COVID-19 vaccine

To register with the Orange County Health Department, NC, click here or call (919) 913-8088. Call daily, 8:30am - 4:30pm. Spanish and other languages available.

Face Coverings: NC requires face coverings for all people older than 5 years old to slow the spread of COVID.

Social Distancing: Social distancing, also called physical distancing, is a vital way to stay healthy during a pandemic.

Testing: Learn more about testing for COVID-19

Handwashing: If you are able to learn to keep good hand hygiene, it is so much easier to stay healthy.

Stay at Home: Everything you need to know about the "Safer at Home" guidance.

Image of two people, outdoors, physically distanced, while dancing

How to Gather Safely: Learn more about how to make special occasions and gatherings safer.

More information may be found at www.orangecountync.gov/coronavirus

Contact Information

For general questions (not urgent) about 2019 Novel Coronavirus, contact NCDHHS at: ncresponse@dhhs.nc.gov or 1-866-462-3821 to address general questions about coronavirus from the public.

If you are an individual or a medical practice with questions about COVID-19, call the Orange County Health Department at (919) 245-6111. During business hours (8:30a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Contact Kristin Prelipp, the Orange County Health Department’s Public Information Officer at: kprelipp@orangecountync.gov or 919-245-2462

Orange County Health Department:
Web: www.orangecountync.gov/coronavirus
Phone: 919-245-2400
Email: covid19@orangecountync.gov
Facebook: Orange County Health Department
Instagram: OrangeHealthNC
Twitter: Orange Health NC
Youtube: OCHDNC

Pfizer Booster Shots Available forHigh-Risk Groups

COVID-19 Additional Dose vs. Booster:Know the Difference!