East Hartford Health Department Offers Flu and COVID-19 Booster Clinics

Posted on: October 17, 2022 - 2:15pm
East Hartford Health Department Offers Flu and COVID-19 Booster Clinics

East Hartford, CT – The East Hartford Health Department is offering residents two additional flu and COVID-19 booster dose clinics during the month of November.  A drive-thru flu clinic will be conducted from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 90 Remington Road (the former North End Senior Center) on Saturday November 5, 2022, and at the Senior Center located at 15 Milbrook Drive from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Thursday November 10, 2022. The bivalent COVID-19 vaccines will be available at the Senior Center clinic. No appointment is needed for the Remington Road drive-thru clinic; appointments can be scheduled for the Senior Center clinic, with walk-ins accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Residents are advised to bring their insurance and ID cards; however, no one will be turned away. To speak with a public health nurse or to make an appointment, contact the East Hartford Health Department at 860-291-7324 (option 1).

“The Health Department recommends all eligible individuals to receive both your COVID-19 booster and flu shot to reduce your risk of severe illness and hospitalization during this viral respiratory season”, said Director of Health Laurence Burnsed.  Getting vaccinated is especially important for individuals at high risk of severe illness, including persons 65 years and older, pregnant people, persons with underlying conditions, including asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and immunocompromising condition.  “It’s also important for persons that provide care or have a high-risk family member within their household to reduce the risk of developing exposing our high-risk contacts.”

The Pfizer and Moderna bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccines will also be available to all eligible recipients. The East Hartford Health Department recommends that people ages 12 years and older receive one updated Pfizer or Moderna (bivalent) booster. This includes people who have received all primary series doses and people who have previously received one or more original (monovalent) boosters.

Until now, COVID-19 booster shots have been monovalent, which means they only contained one version of the mRNA sequence for the SARS-CoV-2 virus’ spike protein — the one that came from the original strain, which emerged in late 2019. The boosters that were recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are considered bivalent vaccines. That means they contain the mRNA sequence for the spike protein of two strains of SARS-CoV-2: the original strain, and the current predominant subvariant of Omicron, BA.5. The spike protein on the surface of both Omicron’s BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants is the same, so this booster provides protection against both.

Individuals only need a single booster shot of the bivalent vaccine to be considered fully boosted, but residents are not eligible to get it unless they’ve already been fully vaccinated with either Johnson & Johnson/Janssen’s original one-shot regimen, or Pfizer or Moderna’s original two-shot regimen. Individuals are eligible to receive a bivalent booster shot two months after they’ve been fully vaccinated or after they have received their COVID-19 monovalent booster.

The East Hartford Health Department encourages residents to make a plan if you are eligible to receive your flu and/or COVID-19 booster vaccines. There is no need to stagger vaccines so if you’re due for both – you can get your flu shot and your COVID-19 booster at the same time. Based on the data and evidence available to date, the Health Department stresses that these booster shots are safe and effective.

For questions regarding the flu and/or COVID-19 vaccines, or to discuss booster dose eligibility, call the East Hartford Health Department at 860-291-7324. If transportation is needed to get to and from a clinic site, please contact the Health Department for assistance.

  • Date: Saturday November 5, 2022
    Time: 11 AM – 2 PM
    Location: North End Senior Center at 90 Remington Road
    **Drive-thru only**
     
  • Date: Thursday November 10, 2022
    Time: 1 – 4 PM
    Location: Senior Center, 15 Milbrook Drive, Cultural Arts Room

Cost: There is no cost for getting the flu or COVID-19 vaccines. The East Hartford Health Department accepts all patients, regardless of insurance status. No ID is required.

For more information about vaccination recommendations and health department clinic options, please visit the East Hartford Health Department webpage.