City of El Paso starts administering Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster shots
Anthony Jackson
The city of El Paso started administering COVID-19 booster shots Monday.
Booster shots are available by appointment only to eligible adults who have received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, according to a city news release.
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City officials said immunity in fully vaccinated people will be high months after receiving the vaccine, but booster shots can strengthen protection against COVID-19 for people who have a high risk of exposure or face health complications from severe disease.
All individuals eligible for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster shot are recommended to wait at least six months after completing their second dose vaccine before receiving a booster shot.
Those recommended for the booster are:
People 65 years and older and residents of long-term care settings;
People 18 to 64 years old with underlying medical conditions;
People 18 to 64 years old who are at an increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster based on their individual benefits and risks.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not currently recommend booster doses for people who received the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines.
The Food and Drug Administration does not authorize mixing and matching vaccine brands; it also is not recommended by the CDC.
City officials said the FDA is currently reviewing data for a Moderna booster.
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If and when the Moderna booster is approved, city officials said they will be administered accordingly. The FDA has not yet received an application from Johnson & Johnson for a booster of its vaccine.
El Paso city and county health officials said they want to remind the public to continue to wear face coverings, to wash hands frequently and to practice social distancing, regardless of vaccination status. Additional information about COVID-19 can be found at EPStrong.org.
Updated on COVID-19 cases, deaths
Last week, eight COVID-19 deaths were reported, health officials said. Seven of the eight patients had underlying health conditions; one had no underlying illness. They included a man in his 30s; a woman in her 50s, two men in their 60s, a man and a woman in their 70s, a man in his 80s and a man in his 90s.
Also, 192 new breakthrough COVID-19 cases were reported last week. One of the deaths was a breakthrough COVID-19 death and the patient had underlying health conditions.
There were 665 new COVID-19 cases reported last week. There also were 60 additional cases that were part of the delayed local results issued by the State to the Department of Public Health.
On Monday, city officials reported 85 new COVID-19 cases for a total of 144,691 in the county; no new deaths, leaving the death toll at 2,787; 1,494 active cases, with 140,269 people having recovered from the disease; and 103 people hospitalized from the illness, including 44 in intensive care and 29 on ventilators.
There have been 2,307 breakthrough cases and 23 breakthrough deaths, as well as 166 hospitalizations, with 33 patients placed in ICU and 13 on ventilators.
City of El Paso continues to administer third dose shots
El Paso health officials said third dose shots are not boosters.
A booster dose is given to people whose immune response has weakened over time and is administered six months after an initial vaccine series is completed.
Third dose shots are administered to people who might not have a strong enough immune response after receiving the initial vaccine series and are administered to severely immunocompromised individuals 28 days after an initial vaccine series is completed.
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Third dose shots are available to people who have received their second Pfizer or Moderna vaccine and who are moderately or severely immunocompromised individuals.
Those eligible for a third dose shot include people who:
Are receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood;
Received an organ transplant within the past two years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system;
Received a stem cell transplant within the past two years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system;
Have a moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency, such as DiGeorge syndrome and Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome;
Have an advanced or untreated HIV infection;
Have an active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that might suppress the immune response.
Those who are eligible for a third vaccine dose are strongly encouraged to talk to their health care provider about their medical condition and whether getting an additional dose is right for them.
Where to get a booster or third dose vaccine
The city will administer COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech booster shots and third dose vaccinations by appointment only at the following locations:
8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 301 George Perry Blvd.
Noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Judson F. Williams Convention Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza.
Booster shots and third dose vaccinations are available from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday at the following city of El Paso COVID-19 clinics:
220 S. Stanton St. (corner of First and Stanton streets)
9341 Alameda Ave.
7380 Remcon Circle
To make an appointment, visit EPCovidVaccine.com and click on the registration form or call 915-212-6843.
Need the COVID-19 vaccine?
People can register and schedule an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine with the city online at epcovidvaccine.com, or show up at any city vaccination site without an appointment.
Residents are urged to get COVID-19 vaccinations from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Judson F. Williams Convention Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza. Appointments are not needed.
COVID-19 clinics are open to individuals 12 years old and older.
Vaccinations are available at the following locations from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday:
• 220 S. Stanton St.
• 9341 Alameda Ave.
• 7380 Remcon Circle
• 9566 Railroad Drive
If you have questions about the city's COVID-19 vaccination sites or services, call 915-212-6843.
Anthony Jackson may be reached at ADJackson@elpasotimes.com and @TonyAnjackson on Twitter.