Booster vaccine now authorized for 16 and 17-year-olds.
San Juan Basin Public Health (SJBPH) is pleased to announce that the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s (CDPHE) mobile unit providing monoclonal antibody treatments for COVID-19 has been extended through December 23rd. Monoclonal antibody treatments have been shown to be effective at preventing hospitalizations for people who test positive for COVID-19 and are considered high risk for severe illness.
CDPHE’s mobile unit is located at the La Plata County Fairgrounds (2500 Main Ave, Durango), next to the COVID-19 community testing site, through Thursday, Dec. 23, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Treatment eligibility is for people 12 years of age and older who have tested positive for COVID- 19, with symptom onset within the last 10 days, who aren’t hospitalized or on oxygen due to COVID-19, and are at risk of getting very sick without treatment. The treatment is free, no referral is required, and is available to people regardless of vaccination status.
Eligible individuals can sign up for treatment at the mobile unit by self-scheduling on an online platform provided by CDPHE. As part of the appointment making process, patients will complete a screening form to determine eligibility for the therapy. At the time of the appointment, a health care provider from the mobile unit will review the screening form and must provide authorization for a patient to receive this therapy. According to CDPHE, the on-site review of the screening questions and authorization to receive treatment will occur in just minutes, in most cases.
SJBPH is also pleased to announce that on Dec. 9, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) authorized booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine for 16 and 17-year-olds. Previously, booster doses were only available for adults. All who are eligible are encouraged to get their booster dose as soon as possible and prior to any holiday gatherings. According to State of Colorado data, people who are fully vaccinated and receive a booster are 47.5 times less likely to be hospitalized than someone who is unvaccinated.
“In SJBPH’s health district, nearly one-third of the total fatalities among COVID-19 cases during the pandemic have occurred in the past three months. This is tragic for our community, and we send our condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones. Our community has wide availability of vaccines, boosters, monoclonal antibody treatments, and COVID-19 testing. The eligibility for booster shots is now 16+, and we’re urging everyone who is eligible to get that done ASAP. And if you receive a positive test for COVID-19 and may be at risk for severe illness, please sign up for the free monoclonal antibody treatment bus that the State has provided,” said Liane Jollon, Executive Director of SJBPH.
Residents ages 16 and up should receive a booster dose either six months past finishing an initial two-dose series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or two months past receiving the Johnson & Johnson one-dose vaccine. Receiving a booster is shown to drastically increase protection from severe illness, and clinics with ample supply of all three vaccine types are widely available in both La Plata and Archuleta counties. All SJBPH and Jogan Health clinics can offer first, second, and booster doses for those who are eligible. The full schedule of vaccine clinics and providers is available online with convenient dates and times across both counties.