ASHEVILLE – The pressing questions today are about the updated COVID-19 vaccine: Do I need an extra booster shot? Is the latest vaccine already available in the Asheville area?
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Question: We recently made an appointment for myself and my spouse to get the COVID-19 vaccine (booster) as we will be traveling in a month. We received a message from the pharmacy a few hours before our appointment to cancel my spouse’s appointment but not mine. When we went to the pharmacy we were told the pharmacy, and in fact all of Asheville, was out of stock of the COVID-19 vaccine. There is apparently a shortage as a new vaccine is in development and should be available this fall. We need the vaccine now, not in 2 months. Will Asheville be receiving booster doses of the older vaccine? It’s a bad situation for those of us who are vulnerable due to our health and age, but we can’t seem to get any helpful information about the situation.
A: You probably need a booster shot, and you’re almost certainly eligible to get one. But in the meantime, it might be a little hard to find one.
Buncombe County Health Director Ellis Matheson told the Citizen-Times that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending a booster shot for everyone 6 months of age or older, along with the updated flu vaccine, in preparation for the upcoming fall and winter respiratory disease season.
But Matheson said that may not be possible in Buncombe County just yet.
“Currently, the health department does not have inventory of the latest version of the COVID-19 vaccine,” Matheson said. “We will notify the public when inventory arrives so people can come to a vaccination clinic, go to a pharmacy or check with their health care provider.”
Matheson said it’s unclear at this time whether pharmacies have the latest booster of the COVID-19 vaccine in stock, but the health department expects it to be delivered at the end of August or early September.
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Who can get the new COVID vaccine?
In North Carolina, anyone 6 months of age or older can get the COVID vaccine. No government-issued ID is required. A dedicated webpage from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services states that anyone can get vaccinated, regardless of immigration status.
If I’ve already had the COVID vaccine, do I still need to get vaccinated in the fall?
Yes, the NCDHHS page explains that the seasonal COVID vaccines, like the flu vaccine, are designed for an ever-changing virus, but you should wait at least two months from the date of your last vaccination before getting the fall vaccine.
The site also reminds the public that if they are 5 years of age or older, they do not need to receive the same vaccine brand as their previous dose. Children 6 months to 4 years of age should receive the same vaccine brand for all doses, if possible.
“With respiratory virus season coming up and COVID-19 still circulating, people need to make sure they’re up to date on their vaccines,” Matheson said. “Wash your hands, cover your mouth when you cough, stay home if you’re sick and if you do get sick, contact your doctor so they can treat you.”
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Iris Seaton is a featured news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. She can be reached at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
