October 29, 2021 – Encouraging COVID Boosters
Dear Whitman community,
On Thursday, Oct. 21, the CDC and FDA expanded access to booster doses for the Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines. Currently, Whitman’s Cabinet and elected faculty leadership, in consultation with our epidemiologist, are following CDC and FDA guidance in strongly encouraging those eligible for boosters to get one. While we knew early on that the vaccines provide significant protection against severe illness and death, an increasing amount of evidence demonstrates that they also reduce asymptomatic infections and decrease transmission, thus improving the collective immunity of our Whitman community.
For those who have received two prior doses of Moderna or Pfizer, the agencies are recommending that the following groups receive a booster shot 6 months or more after their second dose:
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65 years and older
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Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings
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Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions
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Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings (this category includes college employees)
For anyone 18 and older who received the single-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine, a booster is recommended for those who were vaccinated two or more months ago.
The CDC and FDA also are allowing for vaccine “mixing and matching,” in which people choose which vaccine they prefer for a booster. Each vaccine has been associated with some very rare side effects, and individuals should consult with their healthcare provider to determine which booster may be safest based on their own medical history. While the original two-dose Pfizer vaccine has been approved by the FDA, all booster doses are authorized by the FDA for emergency use.
In Walla Walla, booster doses of all three types of vaccines are available at the Providence Southgate clinic. Appointments should be scheduled on the Walla Walla County Department of Community Health COVID website. Local pharmacies (view the list here) also provide booster doses.
At Whitman, we continue to monitor our on-campus infection rates and are very encouraged by our low overall infection rates during the fall semester. Our highly vaccinated community, along with other mitigation measures such as masking, provide us with a safe campus for living and learning. While current models show COVID ebbing in Washington and nationally, we know that this virus is unpredictable and we will continue to update our campus guidelines and practices regarding vaccination based on science and evolving public health guidance.
Best,
Peter Harvey
Chair, Coronavirus Task Force