PORT ARTHUR, Texas — The city of Port Arthur's health department appears to be the second Southeast Texas agency to begin offering a third COVID-19 vaccine shot to those who have a compromised immune system.
The department announced in a release Wednesday morning that it will begin offering the third shots in accordance with CDC guidance.
No specific date for the third shots was given but those who may qualify and are interested should call the health department at (409) 983-8880 according to the release.
“All that booster shot is saying is that you still have antibodies, but you've got to increase your levels,” Dr. Ray Callas said.
US health officials are calling for an extra shot of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Amid the surging of the delta variant, Dr. Callas said it's time to beef up protection.
“There's studies out there stating that if you have a high enough antibody level, you're pretty protected from the variant and from any part of the coronavirus,” Dr. Callas said.
An evaluation is pending by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but doses could begin to roll out the week of Sept. 20.
“Do I think there's going to be a massive line? Yes. There's going to be a need for all hands on deck,” Dr. Callas said.
So, how are health departments preparing for a potential high demand? Port Arthur Health Director Judith Smith said they're ready to pivot if need be.
“We will look at a larger venue and of course the Civic Center is possibly going to be, you know the option,” Smith said.
As health officials prepare to get an extra dose in arms, they're still asking some to get their first dose.
“We're just asking you to start to get your first vaccination. We're still way below the country average. Matter of fact, we're probably one of the lowest vaccinated rates counties in the state of Texas,” Dr. Callas said.
Smith said they're trying every possible way to change that.
“I mean, when we have the strike team that's doing the homebound, that setting up at churches, setting up in our sister cities like we had a clinic yesterday in Nederland until 7:30 last night,” Smith said.
The CDC is now recommending that people whose immune systems are compromised moderately to severely should receive an additional dose of the mRNA vaccine after the initial two doses according to its website.
This includes people who have:
- Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
- Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
- Advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response
According to the CDC people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems may not build the same level of immunity to 2-dose vaccine series compared to people who are not immunocompromised.
On Friday, Aug. 13, the CDC announced the FDA authorized a third COVID-19 shot for people who received an mRna vaccine, either from Pfizer or Moderna. That shot is meant to boost their immune response, but is called an “additional shot” instead of a “booster shot.”
Some news headlines called the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine a ‘booster shot’ after CDC’s announcement on Friday. That term also spiked on Google Trends.
From a City of Port Arthur news release...
The Port Arthur Health Department is now offering third shots for those fully vaccinated, as guided by the Centers for Disease Control.
To find out if you or a family member may qualify, please call the City of Port Arthur Health Department’s COVID line at (409) 983-8880 for additional information and guidance on test sites.
Please call (409) 332-6125 for more information about the COVID Vaccines.
MORE VACCINE | Here’s some of our latest stories on the COVID-19 vaccine
MORE COVID-19 | Here’s some of our latest stories on the coronavirus
GET NEWS & WEATHER ALERTS | Download the 12News App to your mobile device
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.