Kanawha County Seeks Assistance in Getting Approval for 2nd Booster Vaccines for First Responders, Health Care Workers, Essential Workers, and Caregivers
Charleston, WV – The Kanawha County Commission sent a letter to Senator Joe Manchin and Senator Shelley Moore Capito requesting their assistance in seeking approval from the CDC for First Responders, Health Care Workers, Essential Workers, and Caregivers to receive their 2nd COVID-19 Booster. Currently, those who are 50 years and older or those who are 12 years and older with underlying conditions that make them more susceptible to the virus are eligible for the 2nd booster. This leaves out many of our frontline employees working with COVID patients and COVID-exposed persons.
“We are seeing many subvariants at this time that cause breakthrough cases of COVID, and the fact that many of our first responders, health care workers, and essentials workers have not had a booster dose in more than six months, means that the vaccine efficacy has waned. Kanawha County, early on, ensured that this group of essential personnel received their vaccines first and received their booster doses as soon as they possibly could. It is time for them to receive their 2nd booster dose to protect them further,” stated Commission President Kent Carper. “We request that Senator Manchin and Senator Capito assist in urging the CDC to expand the guidelines to cover this group. I want to thank Senator Manchin and Senator Capito for all they have done for our essential workers throughout the Pandemic.”
Commissioner Ben Salango stated, “Our first responders and health care workers must be protected from this virus. Vaccines protect people from becoming extremely ill if they test positive for COVID. By offering the 2nd booster to our essential workers, we are protecting them and those around them. We must continue to do all we can to help stop the spread of COVID. Senator Manchin and Senator Capito have always helped lead the way for our essential personnel.”
“The 2nd booster has been available to a limited portion of the population, and it is time to open it up to allow essential workers the option to arm themselves with another layer of protection. These first responders, health care workers, and essential personnel are the ones who are continuing to fight the battle on the front lines, and they need to be boosted. I know that Senator Capito and Senator Manchin will do all they can to urge the CDC to expand these guidelines,” commented Commissioner Lance Wheeler.