Booster Shots Made Available To McLean County

Photo Courtesy from McLean County Twitter

NORMAL, Ill.–McLean County Health Department is offering mass vaccination clinics for COVID-19 booster shots to those who received Pfizer in as their original doses. The clinics are offered every Thursday — with a few exceptions for holidays such as Thanksgiving – at Grossinger Motors Arena from 10 a.m. -3 p.m. 

The health department strongly recommends these additional doses to those 65 years and older, anyone 18 and up working in long term care facilities and residents that are 50 or older with underlying health conditions. Those who meet any of these requirements are eligible for a booster 6 months after their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. 

McLean County Health Department Public Affairs Coordinator Marianne Manko asserts that the booster shots “help keep vaccinated individuals from being hospitalized due to COVID-19,” and recommends that residents should get the dose as soon as they are able. These booster shots differ from “third doses”, which are designed specifically for those with extremely compromised immune systems. 

The health department also anticipates Moderna and Johnson & Johnson recipiants will soon have a booster shot available to them as well, as the companies are each in the process of developing their own additional doses. Currently, booster shots are not available to children.

Walk-ins for the clinics are always welcome, but residents can also register in advance for a booster shot by visiting health.mcleancounty.gov. Also, a variety of locations throughout the county are offering booster shots and anyone wishing to find these locations may visit vaccines.gov and enter their zip code.