The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently amended the emergency use authorizations (EUAs) for the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines to authorize use of a single booster dose for all individuals 16 years of age and older. The FDA hopes that streamlining the eligibility criteria and expanding the approval of booster shots to all interested adults will help eliminate confusion and ensure doses are available to anyone who needs one.

Since Moderna and Pfizer first submitted safety and effectiveness data, real-world data has been added to continuously evaluate risks and benefits of booster doses in adults. Though cases of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the outer lining of the heart) have occurred, the FDA determined that the benefits of a booster dose outweigh the risks.

Booster doses provide continued protection against COVID-19 and the associated serious consequences including hospitalization and death. As the virus continues to mutate and variants such as Delta and Omicron continue to emerge, booster doses are increasingly important to strengthen the body's immune response.

Getting a booster dose of the vaccine helps protect yourself and those around you, especially children who are not yet eligible. The Lafayette County Health Department (LCHD) is offering Pfizer vaccines, including newly-authorized pediatric doses for children ages 5-11, during walk-in clinic hours every Monday and Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Adults can also receive the Pfizer vaccine at LCHD the last Tuesday of the month from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

More than 49.9 million people have received a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine following their completed primary vaccination.

Misinformation surrounding the COVID-19 virus and its vaccines have prevented people from taking the precautions necessary to best defend themselves and their loved ones. No one wants to be ostracized for making the personal choice to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Help us equip our community with facts and resources about COVID-19 vaccines.

The toolkit, offered in English and Spanish, features educational content and resources designed to inform and educate about vaccine development, safety, dosing, and more, including:

The Lafayette County Health Department offers the pediatric Pfizer vaccine for ages 5 to 11 during walk-in clinics every Monday and Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. #GetTheShot

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak across the U.S. in late January of 2020, ever-changing information about the disease, safety measures, and vaccine efficacy has stirred fear and uncertainty. The facts remain: more than 788,000 lives have been lost to COVID-19 and vaccines remain the strongest and safest defense against the virus.

Completed primary vaccinations and booster shots are critical as variants of concern such as Delta and newly identified Omicron continue to emerge. Though it is not yet clear if Omicron is more transmissible than other variants, as Delta is, evidence from affected areas of South Africa has prompted research to learn more.

All variants of COVID-19 can cause severe disease or death, in particular for the most vulnerable people, and thus prevention is always key. Your body is your business and it’s important to remember that your health decisions are yours alone to make. As misinformation continues to spread, discussing concerns with a care provider you trust can help you make the decision that’s right for you.

HCC Network’s new mobile units are bridging the access gap in health care. Outreach Coordinator Rhiannon Lovercamp works with individuals and organizations to determine where transportation barriers exist in rural Missouri. She then coordinates with those in need of service to set a schedule to bring the HCC mobile units to them.

Listen to Lovercamp discuss how she plans to use her role to expand health care access across Missouri in her interview for the HCC podcast.

Mei Wa Kwong, executive director of the Center for Connected Health Policy, a nonpartisan organization widely regarded as an authority on telehealth, estimates that the number of telehealth visits increased by as much as 40% during spring and summer 2020 and remains 30% higher than it was before the pandemic. According to a survey conducted by the National Association of Community Health Centers, the percentage of health centers using telehealth jumped from 43% before the pandemic to 98% during the early months of the crisis.

HCC is working to get as many eligible individuals enrolled in Medicaid as possible.

Medicaid has expanded in Missouri to cover more than 200,000 newly eligible adults, including people who may not have qualified previously. Even if you have tried to apply before, check again: the rules have changed.

For help determining eligibility and enrolling in Missouri Medicaid, contact Shelly Harden at 660.214.2869. Learn more about Medicaid Expansion through MO HealthNet in Missouri. Listen to Harden discuss Medicaid Expansion and the new guidelines in an HCC Network Podcast.