MISSOULA - On Monday, the Missoula City County Health Department started offering booster doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to eligible county residents. Missoula City County Health Department COVID-19 Incident Commander Cindy Farr said the boosters will be available at the department’s vaccine site at Southgate Mall.
“We’re looking forward to helping county residents, but it’s important to remember there are some limitations to the boosters,” Farr said.
• Boosters are for patients aged 65 and older and residents of long-term care facilities, ages 18+.
• They are also authorized for patients aged 18 to 64 with underlying medical conditions.
• They are also authorized for patients aged 18 to 64 who are at increased risk for COVID- 19 exposure because of their occupational setting.
• Boosters are solely for patients who received the Pfizer vaccine. Right now, boosters have not been authorized for the Moderna and Janssen vaccines.
• There must be at least six months between a patient’s second dose and booster dose.
The Health Department is asking county residents to be sure to bring along their COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card. Booster shots are available by appointment only at the Southgate Mall. Appointments are available by calling 258-INFO (4636), option 3 or online at covid19.missoula.co.
“Making appointments will help us ensure we have adequate staffing and supplies,” Farr said. “Our goal is to have each appointment be as safe, comfortable and smooth as possible.”
Farr noted that there has been confusion between the recently approved booster shots and third doses. Since late August, third doses have been authorized for immunocompromised patients. Those shots – of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines – are authorized solely for patients with compromised immunity. MCCHD has administered about 400 of those third doses to eligible patients.
“We’ve had lots of questions about the differences between boosters and third doses,” Farr said. “The third shots are for a fairly small number of patients, while the boosters approved this month are available to the groups authorized by the FDA and CDC.”
Farr said the vaccine center also continues to offer first and second doses of the Pfizer and Moderna shots, and patients may either make an appointment or walk in for those. The Southgate site is out of the Janssen vaccine until further notice.
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