The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a statement approving the use of the Moderna vaccine booster shot on Thursday, Oct. 21.
In addition to the Pfizer booster shot, which has been available since Sept. 24, a third shot of the Moderna is available for certain demographic groups.
Eligible parties as of now according to the CDC website are children 6 months or more after their initial series and adults 65 years or older.
People in the 18 to 65 age bracket must meet certain requirements at this point to receive the vaccine.
People in this age range who live in long-term care settings have underlying medical conditions, and who work or live in high-risk settings are eligible.
Student Health Services at UW is not currently capable of offering vaccinations, but director Mary Beth Bender said that “Student Health is more than happy to meet with students to go through the risks and benefits and help make a decision.”
Pole Mountain Pharmacy is just one of seven locations in Laramie where the vaccine and booster shots are available to the public.
According to Pole Mountain owner Bret Kvenild, “We have been administering the Pfizer booster for a while now, but the Modena booster was approved on Thursday.”
As of Monday Oct. 25, Pole Mountain is accepting appointment booking for all COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots online, via their website.
Both Bender and Kvenild confirmed that mixing and matching a booster shot from a company different from the one you received the original shot from is safe.
“Studies cited by the CDC have shown that there is a benefit from mixing,” Bender said. “For example, if your first two shots were Moderna, the third shot is suspected to be even more effective if it is Pfizer, as this reduces redundancy.”
This fact may make all the difference for some, as it does for Adrian Lausen, a nursing major at the university.
“If it’s available and professionals are recommending it, then I’ll get the third shot since I’ve already got the first two,” Lausen said. “I would like to get the best possible coverage, so mixing and getting a different company makes sense.”
Other students, such as Kate Norman, a social work major, say otherwise.
“I would consider it if I were eligible and absolutely needed it, but I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary for me,” Norman said.
Pole Mountain Pharmacy is only one of seven providers of the vaccine in Laramie, as of the time of publication.
Other locations where the vaccine and booster shots are available and can be found at www.vaccines.gov.
Current listed locations in Laramie include Safeway Pharmacy, Ridley’s Pharmacy, Walmart, Walgreens, Laramie Pediatrics, and Albany County Public Health.
