Canton Reporter

The Stark County Health Department will follow the advisement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) to administer a second booster dose for those eligible. The second booster of Pfizer-BioNTech is recommended for adults 50 years of age and older and those 12 years of age and older with certain immunocompromised conditions 4 months after their previous booster. The health department only administers the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine during clinics. The clinics are offered Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. located at the health department at 7235 Whipple Ave. N.W., North Canton, Ohio 44720. Appointments must be scheduled through ArmorVax.com or by calling 330.451.1681.

“We were encouraged by the news from the federal and state health agencies that are recommending the second booster dose for those in our community that need that extra dose of protection from COVID-19,” said Kirkland Norris, REHS, MPH.

Who is eligible for a Pfizer-BioNTech booster dose?

• 50 years and older.
• Age 12 and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised.

ODH reminds residents, who are now eligible to receive a second booster dose, to speak with their healthcare providers to assess individual risks and the benefits of a second booster dose. It is recommended that residents stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations. Those residents who received a primary vaccine and booster dose of Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months ago, may now receive a second booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. It is important to ask the provider where residents are planning to receive their booster dose if the COVID-19 vaccine booster they desire is available.

“All three vaccines remain our best defense against COVID-19 and its variants,” said Norris. “While we may not be offering Johnsons & Johnson (Janssen) or the Moderna vaccine at our clinics, we encourage you to visit GetTheShot.Coronavirus.Ohio.gov or Vaccines.gov for other providers near you.”

Can I Mix & Match?

According to ODH, those fully vaccinated individuals ages 18 years and older who have completed the primary vaccination series can receive a booster dose of any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of the vaccine used for initial vaccination. This mix-and-match approach applies only to booster doses for adults. People ages 12-17 years may only receive a Pfizer vaccine booster.

You can scheduling an appointment for a first, second or booster dose of Pfizer-BioNTech through ArmorVax.com and on the mobile app for Apple and Android devices. However, those that do not have access to a computer, internet or who have difficulty using ArmorVax, may still call the registration phone line at 330.451.1681 to schedule an appointment. Those that are minors, ages 5 to 17 years old, must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian to their vaccine appointment. The parent or legal guardian must sign a consent form at the time of vaccination.

The Stark County Combined General Health District (Stark County Health Department) was founded in 1920 and is celebrating a century of health. The department is currently the ninth largest health district in the State of Ohio which serves the public health needs of over 250,000 people. The jurisdiction of the Stark County District is that of the 17 Townships, 12 Villages, and the cities of Louisville, North Canton, and Canal Fulton. The mission of the department is to assess, protect, promote, and improve the health of Stark County through leadership, quality service, and community partnerships.

Original source can be found here.