Eligible Patients Will Be Called
Glacial Ridge Health System has been busy the last three weeks, contacting patients who qualify for their Pfizer COVID-19 booster and getting them scheduled for their booster shot appointment. They will continue to reach out to those patients who are eligible.
As of October 22, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved booster shots for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines. In the next week, GRHS will start contacting patients and scheduling them for their booster shots. However, it will take time for everyone eligible to get a booster dose.
For individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at six months or more after their initial series:
- 65 years 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
For those who got the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are recommended for those 18 and older and vaccinated two or more months ago.
Mix and Match Vaccine Boosters Also Approved
There are now booster recommendations for all three available COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some people may prefer the vaccine type that they originally received, and others may prefer to get a different booster. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots. So if a patient has a preference on which booster shot they want, if GRHS has that booster available, the patient can choose which one they get, regardless of their initial vaccine shot or series. GRHS reception staff will be calling eligible patients, and it may take several weeks before all eligible patients in our community can get their booster dose.
“As a whole, GRHS has been extremely busy the past few weeks, with an extremely high call volume that is four times the normal amount of calls per day. Our staff is doing their very best to get back to patients in a timely fashion, to answer their questions no matter what their reason is for calling,” said Kirk Stensrud, CEO; and states he appreciates everyone’s patience during this time. He added, “The local seven-day daily positivity rate for those tested, as of October 22, remains very high at 20%. Hospitalizations also remain high, at a rate higher than we’ve seen since the beginning of the pandemic.”
For those seeking to BEGIN the vaccine series?
Anyone who has not received a COVID-19 vaccine is encouraged to get both doses in the initial series. The number for COVID vaccination at Glenwood Medical Center for FIRST DOSES ONLY is 320.331.2121. A receptionist will call you back to schedule.
