All Vaccinated Broome Residents Can Get the Booster

Any Broome County resident who has gotten their final shot of the two-dose Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at least six months ago or who got the one-dose Johnson and Johnson shot over two months ago can get a booster under new Centers for Disease Control recommendations.

County Executive Jason Garnar says its really important to get the vaccine and the booster as positive cases continue to climb again and residents begin to gather for the holidays after gatherings were canceled by the pandemic a year ago.

The County Executive says he is “very-very concerned” about the next few weeks and months as the numbers of people getting sick climbs again.  Garnar says 65% of the county population has had one dose and 60% the complete series of COVID vaccines, not counting the booster.

Health officials say the more contagious Delta variant is responsible for the new cases and breakthrough cases in the area as effectiveness of shots that where received six month or more ago starts to wane.

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Garnar says says his advice going into the holiday season and winter is get vaccinated, get the booster, wear a mask, socially distance and it is very important if you are sick stay at home.  Garnar recommends people should get tested before gathering even if they aren't showing any symptoms of COVID as there are growing numbers of breakthrough cases. Garnar says he’s learned of many cases where someone wasn’t feeling well, thought it was a cold and found out they had COVID and may have been spreading the virus for days.