Alexandria starts distributing COVID-19 booster shots

The Alexandria Health Department, over the weekend, started distributing Pfizer COVID-19 booster shots.

While the boosters for the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines are yet to be approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the city is also recommending that residents also get a flu shot at the same time.

“Many pharmacies around Alexandria are now offering both Pfizer COVID-19 boosters and the flu shot, including the high-dose flu shot for seniors,” AHD advised. “Consider getting both during the same visit to protect against COVID-19 and the flu.”

The City is hosting a free flu shot clinic on October 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Francis C. Hammond Middle School.

“Flu shots will be available at no cost, and proof of residency or insurance will not be required,” the city said in a release. “The higher dose version of the flu shot for seniors will not be available at the clinic, but may be available through a pharmacy or healthcare provider.”

Guidance on booster shots

The Alexandria Health Department released the following recommendations on boosters, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• People 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series
• People aged 50-64 years with underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series
• People aged 18-49 years with underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks
• People aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.

For now, those who received  Data for those decisions is expected in the next several weeks. Alexandria Health Department will begin offering Pfizer boosters to those meeting the above criteria by appointment only on Saturday, September 25. Book online at alexandriava.gov/Vaccines to schedule or to find additional date options.

The death toll due to the virus now stands at 144. There are now 13,585 reported cases of the virus since the pandemic started in March 2020. There has also been no change in the 64 cases reported last week in Alexandria City Public Schools since the beginning of the month.

The seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases for every 100,000 people stands at 16.7, and Alexandria’s seven-day average of positive COVID-19 tests remains at 3.0%, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

There has also been no change in the 64 cases reported in Alexandria City Public Schools this month.

Manassas Park and Fairfax City are the only localities in Virginia not experiencing a high transmission rate. They are both seeing moderate transmission.

VDH says that unvaccinated Virginians make up a majority of new cases. So far, 92,149 residents have been fully vaccinated and 104,443 residents have been partially vaccinated. More than 67% of residents over the age of 18 have been vaccinated, and so have 79% of seniors.

Find vaccine providers in Alexandria here. If you feel sick, get tested.