KINGSTON – Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan announced that the County Department of Health will run two COVID-19 vaccination points of dispensing (PODs) next week, ahead of the Thanksgiving and Hanukkah holidays.
On Monday, November 22, a vaccination POD will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at which first, second, additional, and booster doses of the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines will be administered.
On Tuesday, November 23, a pediatric vaccination POD will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. to administer pediatric doses of the Pfizer vaccine to five to 11-year-olds.
“If you look at what happened last year between mid-November and early December 2020, we saw a 378 percent increase in active cases. We’re at a similar moment now in 2021, where we’re starting to see a slow build of another possible wave,” said Ryan. “The decisions we make and the precautions we take in the next week or two really will be determinative of whether we have another big spike or whether we can keep things at a relative plateau.”
Ryan said their goal is not to repeat what happened last year during the winter. He said the county Department of Health has administered 5,676 booster doses as of Tuesday, and he encourages all residents who are eligible, which is basically anyone over the age of 18 who completed the vaccine series at least six months ago, to get the COVID-19 booster.
Ryan expects to receive his booster shot today (Wednesday).
To date, approximately 120,500 county residents have completed the vaccine series, and the CDC recommends boosters for almost everyone.
Pfizer and Moderna boosters are recommended for people who received a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at least six months ago and are:
- Age 65 and older
- Age 18 and older who live in a long-term care setting
- Age 18 and older who have underlying medical conditions
- Age 18 and older who work or live in high-risk settings (This group includes anyone who works within 6 feet of other people, whether paid or volunteer.)
A Johnson & Johnson/Janssen booster is recommended for anyone 18 and older who is two or more months from having received the vaccine.
Sign up for an appointment at VaccinateUlster.com.
