Mountain State Times

The West Virginia Department of Health is notifying residents aged 65 and older about their eligibility for an additional dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine. This follows a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Secretary Sherri Young emphasized the importance of vaccination for vulnerable groups, stating, “As the data consistently shows, those who are older and immunocompromised are the most vulnerable to the severe effects of COVID-19. It is for this reason we encourage those individuals to strongly consider getting an additional dose.”

Current statistics from West Virginia’s Pan Respiratory Dashboard indicate that only 36 percent of residents over 61 are current with their COVID-19 vaccinations. The dashboard also reports that more than one hundred West Virginians died from COVID-19 in the past year, with an average age of 73 among those deceased.

According to existing guidelines, individuals aged 65 and older may receive an additional vaccine dose at least four months after their previous shot. The updated vaccine aims to protect against both the original virus strain and newer variants.

For more information on COVID-19 updates and nearby vaccination sites, visit COVID-19 Vaccine (wv.gov).