Regarding COVID-19 Booster Vaccinations, from PCA Pharmacy

Regarding COVID-19 Booster Vaccinations, from PCA Pharmacy

As many of you may have seen in the news, we are awaiting final approval for the Pfizer COVID-19 booster vaccine from the CDC’s ACIP Committee (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices). Approval will be for those aged 65 and older and those at high-risk, including healthcare workers, and is expected any day now.

Many of you may be wondering, “can you switch vaccine brands for the booster dose?”. Clinicians have mixed opinions on this topic, but at this point, there is not enough data to fully support providing the Pfizer vaccine to those who received the Moderna or J&J vaccines, although studies are underway. Mixing of brands, should be a last resort, especially from J&J to one of the mRNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer. It is recommended that you speak with your personal physician to make the best clinical determination for you and your health. Moderna has applied for FDA approval for its booster dose, which is half the dosage of the first two rounds of vaccine. Moderna’s approval is likely soon to follow Pfizer’s.

https://www.bioworld.com/articles/511673-live-update-from-the-cdcs-acip-meeting-on-the-pfizer-biontech-booster-dose

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/09/23/world/covid-delta-variant-vaccine

PCA Pharmacy is prepared to provide Pfizer COVID-19 Booster Shot Clinics for its customer communities’ residents and staff upon the CDC’s ACIP Committee’s final approval. PCA purchased a Thermo Scientific Ultra-Low Freezer allowing them the ability to store Pfizer vaccine allocations through their entire shelf life rather than the limited 2-week shelf life at normal freezer temperatures. This technology will enable PCA to be optimal stewards of each Pfizer vaccine allocation, reduce waste and ensure availability of the vaccine when needed.

In addition to full-service style COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Clinics, PCA will also be offering its customers full-service flu vaccine clinics for communities wishing to have an on-site clinic for their residents and staff members. For both COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics and Flu Clinics, PCA Pharmacy provides logistical care of the vaccine itself, staff for administration of the vaccine, as well as appropriate billing and documentation following each clinic. If you are interested in hearing more about PCA’s clinics or getting on the schedule, please contact HannahBruenderman@pcapharmacy.com.