The Greene County Public Health Department is raising concerns about individuals not getting a COVID-19 booster vaccine.

Director Becky Wolf says about 57-percent of the Greene County population has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, meaning individuals have received both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or the one dose from Johnson and Johnson. 

“But when you take that number and you drill it down to see how many of those people have received a booster dose, it’s considerably lower. We’d be lucky to hit 25-30-percent.”

Wolf notes those who have been fully vaccinated with Pfizer or Moderna and not yet received a booster dose can do so five months after the second dose, or two months after getting the Johnson and Johnson one dose vaccine. She explains the importance of getting the booster dose.

“But if you’ve not had a booster at all, and it’s been more than five or six months since your primary series, you are essentially sitting out there like a sitting duck without protection. A lot of people that we’re seeing with positive tests that’s what happened. The booster is what pops your immunity backup to protect your from having severe complications or death.”

Greene County Public Health has booster doses available for each of the three approved COVID-19 vaccines. Call them at 515-386-3228 to schedule an appointment.