County waits for
new COVID shots;
clinics planned
Staff writer
County health officials still are waiting for updated COVID-19 vaccine to arrive, health department director Krista Schneider said Monday.
The department plans to carry only Moderna vaccine for ages 6 months and older, Schneider said. It will not carry Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines because of minimum ordering requirements and shorter shelf life.
“I know that the larger pharmacy retailers have been administering COVID-19 vaccines already, but we are still waiting for ours,” Schneider said. “I would anticipate that we will have our shipment in the next two weeks. We also will have an option for those who are uninsured.”
New Respiratory Syncytial Virus vaccines also are on order.
RSV vaccines will be Abrysvo brand, which can be given to people ages 60 and over and pregnant women to help protect babies from birth to 6 months of age.
Beyfortus, an RSV vaccine for newborns and children younger than 2 years old, is also on order.
Marion County Health Department will have walk-in flu clinics at these locations.
- Burns Community Center, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 5.
- Centre school, 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday.
- Durham Community Center, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 17.
- Florence ambulance center, 4:30 to 6 p.m. Oct. 10.
- Goessel Elementary School, 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 17.
- Hillsboro City Hall, 4:30 to 6 p.m. Oct. 16.
- Marion County Courthouse commission room, 2:30 to 3:30 Oct. 24.
- Marion Senior Center, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday.
- Peabody Senior Center, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.
- Peabody-Burns High School, 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday.
- Tampa senior center, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 10.
Flu shots will be available Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at the health department in Marion. Appointments are available by calling (620) 382-2550.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends that nearly everyone 6 months old and older get a flu shot. CDC considers flu shots to be especially important for people at high risk of serious complications of influenza.
Fluzone vaccines are available for people ages 6 months to 49 years old.
Flublock vaccines are available for people aged 50 to 64 years.
High-dose vaccines are available for people age 65 and older.