CANTON — The St. Lawrence County Public Health Department announced that as of May 19th, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a COVID-19 booster dose for everyone 5 years and older at least 5 months after the second dose.

COVID-19 vaccine boosters can further enhance or restore protection that might have decreased over time after your primary series vaccination, the CDC claims.

People are protected best from severe COVID-19 illness when they stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines, which includes getting all recommended boosters when eligible, a press release from St. Lawrence County Public Health said.

What does it mean to be “up to date” with COVID-19 vaccines?

The CDC has strengthened its recommendation for immunocompromised people age 12 and older as well as people 50 and older to say that all who are eligible should get a second booster dose of mRNA vaccine, Public Health said. CDC’s definition of “up to date” for those populations now includes the administration of a second booster dose.

As a reminder, individuals who do not need to quarantine are those who are up to date with all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses when eligible or those who tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days. Since the definition of up to date has changed, it is important to know whether you meet quarantine requirements if you are not up to date with booster doses, said Public Health.

Number of booster doses for people who are NOT moderately or severely immunocompromised:

• All people ages 5 years and older should receive 1 booster of an age-appropriate COVID-19 vaccine; an mRNA vaccine is preferred.

• People ages 18-49 years who received Janssen COVID-19 vaccine as both their primary series and booster dose may receive a second booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months after the Janssen booster dose.

• People ages 50 years and older should receive a second booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months after the first booster dose.

Individuals who are immunocompromised may be eligible for an additional COVID-19 vaccination. For any questions regarding additional doses OR for other COVID-19 vaccination inquiries, contact your healthcare provider.

Through June, St. Lawrence County Public Health will offer COVID-19 vaccines on Mondays 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and Thursdays 12-3:30 p.m. Walk-ins welcome as supply lasts.

To schedule an appointment, individuals may register online. For registration assistance or to request a COVID-19 vaccination in the home, call 315-229-3452. Transportation to vaccination appointments is available through St. Lawrence County Transit. For additional information, call 315-386-2600.

If you have questions regarding COVID-19 or vaccinations, talk with your healthcare provider or call St. Lawrence County Public Health 315-386-2325.