The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has begun distributing supply of the COVID-19 omicron booster vaccine and doses are available in both Archuleta and La Plata counties.
This vaccine was formulated to provide maximum protection against the COVID-19 omicron variant, which is the predominant strain circulating in the United States. San Juan Basin Public Health (SJBPH) urges the community to get the omicron booster to protect themselves against infection heading into the fall and winter.
Anyone aged 12 years and older who has completed a primary series of COVID-19 vaccines should receive an omicron dose. A primary series usually means two doses of Pfizer, Moderna, or Novavax, or one dose of Johnson & Johnson. People who are immunocompromised may receive up to three doses in their primary series.
People who previously received any number of booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccines should also receive an omicron dose at least two months after completing their primary series or their most recent dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. People who recently had COVID-19 may wait up to three months after testing positive or first started feeling symptoms before scheduling an omicron booster.
Both Pfizer and Moderna have produced omicron boosters. Pfizer’s omicron dose is authorized for people aged 12 years and older. Moderna’s omicron dose is authorized for people aged 18 years and older.
The omicron booster is available locally through medical providers, pharmacies and on CDPHE’s mobile vaccine clinics held throughout the region. To find a vaccine, contact your medical provider or pharmacy, visit vaccines.gov or call Colorado’s Vaccine Hotline (877-268-2926).
Find locations of the CDPHE mobile vaccine clinic and book an appointment at this link. Additionally, CDPHE will also be opening a temporary vaccine clinic from 9am to 4pm Monday through Saturday at the La Plata County Fairgrounds beginning September 12. SJBPH also has limited omicron booster appointments available at the Durango and Pagosa Springs offices.
Vaccines are the safest, most effective way to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death caused by COVID-19 and its variants. CDPHE, with coordination from SJBPH, has continued to provide vaccines and boosters in long-term care facilities in recent days. It remains especially important for older adults and high-risk individuals to be up to date on vaccinations in advance of the fall and winter when more activities move indoors and spread of respiratory illnesses can increase.
While COVID-19 cases have leveled or declined, the virus is still circulating in our communities and can cause severe illness especially for individuals of advanced age and people with certain medical conditions. SJBPH urges individuals to follow CDC guidance if they are sick or exposed.
In all COVID-19 Community Levels, individuals are encouraged to stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters, and test if experiencing symptoms.