WAYLAND — Wayland Health Department Director Julia Junghanns urges community members to register for two upcoming flu and COVID-19 bivalent booster vaccination clinics.
At both clinics, the injectable seasonal influenza vaccine will be available to community members aged six months and older. The high-dose influenza vaccine, which is authorized for individuals aged 65 and up, will also be available. The bivalent booster vaccine will only be available at the Oct. 17 clinic.
Wednesday, Oct. 12 Drive-Thru Flu Clinic Register here
A drive-thru clinic offering only flu vaccines will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wayland Village Plaza (old Whole Foods parking lot), 297 Boston Post Road. Attendees should enter the plaza through the Pelham Island Road entrance.
The best way to protect against flu and its potentially serious complications is with a flu vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that almost everyone aged six months and older get a seasonal flu vaccine each year, ideally by the end of October. As long as flu viruses are circulating, vaccination should continue throughout flu season, which may continue into January or later.
Monday, Oct. 17 Flu/Bivalent COVID-19 Clinic Register here
The Wayland Heath Department has expanded its Monday, Oct. 17 clinic to offer COVID-19 bivalent booster shots in addition to the flu vaccine. This clinic will be held in the Large Hearing Room of Wayland Town Hall,41 Cochituate Road, from 4-7 p.m.
Limited doses of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent COVID-19 vaccines will be available at the Oct. 17 clinic.
Individuals 18 years of age and older are eligible for a single booster dose of the bivalent Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine if it has been at least two months since they have completed primary vaccination (two doses) or have received the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.
Individuals aged 12 or older are eligible for a single booster dose of the bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine if it has been at least two months since they have completed primary vaccination (two doses) or have received the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has authorized a “mix-and-match” approach to booster shots, meaning residents may receive a bivalent vaccine from a different manufacturer than their primary vaccination series or previous booster shots.
Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines serves as the best protection against severe disease, hospitalization and death. The bivalent COVID-19 vaccines include a component of the original virus strain to provide broad protection against COVID-19 and a component of the omicron variant to provide better protection against COVID-19 caused by the omicron variant.
Individuals can check if they are eligible for a booster by using the eligibility tool at mass.gov/BoosterCheck.
Please note that pre-registration is required for both clinics. Those who need help registering should call the vaccination hotline at 508-358-6805 and leave a message, and someone will call back to assist.
Residents are asked to bring all insurance and Medicare cards to the clinics. Residents also are reminded to stay home if they feel ill and to wear loose-fitting clothing to receive a vaccine.
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