Health department will offer vaccine boosters

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency will begin offering vaccine booster doses to residents who meet at least one in a list of criteria.

Qualification is based on whether a potential recipient is 65 years of age or older, 18 or older with underlying medical conditions, 18 or older who lives in a long-term care setting, or 18 or older who works in a high-risk setting.

The CDC definition of high-risk work setting includes first responders, education staff, food and agriculture workers, manufacturing workers, corrections workers and others.

Boosters are for those who received a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine as their primary vaccine with the second dose being at least six months ago.

For those who are age 18 and over who received a single dose J&J (Janssen) vaccine as their primary vaccine, at least 2 months ago, should receive a single J&J booster dose.

An appointment can be scheduled online at: bhsj.org/scheduling.