Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is likely to authorize individuals with weakened immune systems to get an extra dose of a coronavirus vaccine. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the chief medical advisor to President Joe Biden, indicated this morning that transplant patients and people cancer treatments could be a priority but that there was no need for booster shots for the wider population right now.
Essex County Chief Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. has issued a statement that the county, which has been running a large-scale vaccination program since December, is now awaiting guidance on booster shots from the FDA and Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
“Getting vaccinated is the best choice we all can make to keep our families safe and prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, and we encourage everyone to get their shots,” DiVincenzo said. “We are still awaiting guidance about the booster shots from the CDC and FDA. However, Essex County has been administering vaccines since December 2020 and we will be prepared to administer the booster shots when they are approved and become available.
“Just like our original vaccination process,” he added, “we anticipate booster shots being administered by appointment only and we are committed to making getting a booster shot as easy and efficient as possible. We will share more information about the shots and process when we receive more information from the CDC and FDA.”
As of today, 69% of all Verona residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, up from 67% four weeks ago, according to data from the state Department of Health. But Essex County is once again experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases: Verona’s total now stands at 1,032, up from 1,000 of July 27.
