CLINIC SCHEDULE
The Columbia County Department of Health offers immunization clinics (by appointment only) every Tuesday from 1 PM – 4 PM and select Tuesdays from 4 PM – 6 PM at our office (325 Columbia St, Suite 100, Hudson, NY 12534). To receive a COVID-19 vaccine, please call our office at (518)-828-3358 to schedule an appointment.
COVID-19 VACCINES
What You Need to Know
- Everyone ages 6 months and older should get a 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine.
- The COVID-19 vaccine helps protect you from severe disease, hospitalization, and death.
- It is especially important to get your 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine if you are ages 65 and older, are at high risk for severe COVID-19, or have never received a COVID-19 vaccine.
- Vaccine protection decreases over time, so it is important to stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccine.
UPDATED INSURANCE INFORMATION FOR THE COVID-19 VACCINE
- Insurance coverage for Covid-19 vaccines
- Private insurance: The COVID vaccine is free under most health insurance plans and Medicare.
- Uninsured or underinsured adults: On August 22, 2024, the FDA authorized and approved updated 2024-25 mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Given the introduction of updated vaccines, 2023-24 mRNA COVID-19 vaccines can no longer be administered, therefore ending doses available through the Bridge Access Program. Now that the Bridge Access Program has ended, uninsured individuals may be able to find 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine available through their state or local health department immunization programs.
- Uninsured or underinsured kids: Vaccines for Children cover all kid’s vaccines, not just Covid-19, for those that cannot pay.
- Free Covid-19 tests are coming back! Starting at the end of September, households can receive 4 free rapid tests through USPS again. Order here: COVIDtests.gov.
UPDATED VACCINE RECOMMENDATIONS
Who needs a COVID-19 vaccine
Reminder
Importance of staying up to date
- Getting the 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine is important because:
- Protection from the COVID-19 vaccine decreases with time.
- Immunity after COVID-19 infection decreases with time.
- COVID-19 vaccines are updated to give you the best protection from the currently circulating strains.
- Getting the 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine is especially important if you:
- Never received a COVID-19 vaccine
- Are ages 65 years and older
- Are at high risk for severe COVID-19
- Are living in a long-term care facility
- Are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant, or might become pregnant in the future.
- Want to lower your risk of getting Long COVID
Keep in mind
Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is a safer, more reliable way to build protection than getting sick with COVID-19.
Learn more about the benefits of getting a COVID-19 vaccine
When are you up to date?
Children ages 6 months–4 years
- Your child is up to date when they have received all recommended doses, including at least 1 dose of the 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine.
| If your child previously had: | Your child should get: |
|---|---|
| 0 doses (was never vaccinated) | 2 doses of the 2024–2025 Moderna vaccine
OR
3 doses of the 2024–2025 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine |
| 1 or more doses of Moderna vaccine | 1 dose of the 2024–2025 Moderna vaccine |
| 1 dose of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine | 2 doses of the 2024–2025 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine |
| 2 or more doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine | 1 dose of the 2024–2025 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine |
Children ages 5–11 years
- You are up to date when you have received:
- 1 dose of the 2024–2025 Moderna COVID-19 vaccine OR
- 1 dose of the 2024–2025 Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
People ages 12 – 64 years
- You are up to date when you have received:
- 1 dose of the 2024–2025 Moderna COVID-19 vaccine OR
- 1 dose of the 2024–2025 Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
- 1 dose of the 2024–2025 Novavax vaccine unless you are receiving a COVID-19 vaccine for the very first time. If you have never received any COVID-19 vaccine and you choose to get Novavax, you need 2 doses of 2024–2025 Novavax COVID-19 vaccine to be up to date.
People ages 65 years and older
- You are up to date when you have received:
- 2 doses of any 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine 6 months apart.
- While it is recommended to get the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine doses 6 months apart, the minimum time is 2 months apart, which allows flexibility to get the second dose prior to typical COVID-19 surges, travel, life events, and healthcare visits.
- 2 doses of any 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine 6 months apart.
Exceptions:
- If you are receiving a COVID-19 vaccine for the first time and getting Novavax, you need:
- 2 doses of 2024–2025 Novavax COVID-19 vaccine 3–8 weeks apart
- A 3rd dose of any COVID-19 vaccine 6 months later
- If you received 1 dose of Novavax vaccine before the 2024–2025 vaccine, you need:
- A 2nd dose of 2024–2025 Novavax vaccine AND
- A 3rd dose of any 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine 6 months later
People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised
There are different recommendations if you are moderately or severely immunocompromised; see Vaccines for Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised People.
People who recently had COVID-19
- People who recently had COVID-19 may delay getting a COVID-19 vaccine for 3 months OR after receiving a positive test with no symptoms.
- The risk of getting COVID-19 is less likely in the weeks to months following a SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- Certain factors could be reasons to get a vaccine sooner rather than later, such as:
- Personal risk of severe COVID-19
- Risk of severe COVID-19 in a family or household member or other close contact
- Local levels of COVID-19 illness
Recommended COVID-19 Vaccines
Three vaccines are available for use in the United States. There is no preference for one vaccine over the other when more than one vaccine is recommended for an age group.
| Vaccine | Recommended for: |
|---|---|
| 2024–2025 Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine | Everyone ages 6 months and older |
| 2024–2025 Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine | Everyone ages 6 months and older |
| 2024–2025 Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine | Everyone ages 12 years and older |
COVID-19 VACCINE BENEFITS
COVID-19 vaccines protect your health
COVID 19-vaccines are effective at protecting people from getting seriously ill, being hospitalized, and dying. Vaccination remains the safest strategy for avoiding hospitalizations, long-term health outcomes, and death.
- Prevents serious illness: COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States are safe and effective at protecting people from getting seriously ill, being hospitalized, and dying.
- A safer way to build protection: Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is a safer, more reliable way to build protection than getting sick with COVID-19.
- Offers added protection: COVID-19 vaccines can offer added protection to people who had COVID-19, including protection against being hospitalized from a new infection.
How to be best protected: As with vaccines for other diseases, people are best protected when they stay up to date.
HELPFUL INFORMATION
SEE BELOW TO FIND USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT PHARMACY VACCINE CLINICS
The Columbia County Department of Health (CCDOH) is committed to providing the COVID-19 Vaccine to every person who resides and/or works in our county. Since information has been changing so rapidly, please check back for any updates or changes.
LOCAL PHARMACY VACCINE APPOINTMENTS:
You can also check with local Pharmacies for vaccine appointments! https://capitalregionalrx.com/covid-vaccine-appointment/
Please check with your local Pharmacy about eligibility and available appointments.
CVS Pharmacy COVID-19 Vaccine Info.: https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine?icid=coronavirus-lp-vaccine-hero#statetool or Appointment Hotline 800-746-7287
ShopRite Pharmacy COVID-19 Vaccine Info.: https://www.shoprite.com/pharmacy/
Walgreens Pharmacy COVID-19 Vaccine Info.: https://www.walgreens.com/topic/promotion/covid-vaccine.jsp
Hannaford Pharmacy COVID-19 Vaccine Info: https://www.hannaford.com/pharmacy/immunizations
HELPFUL LINKS:
NYS Dashboard: https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/covid-19-vaccine-tracker
CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Info.: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/index.html
Media Releases from the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors: https://www.columbiacountyny.com/