Some Utahns ready for a third vaccine dose, pharmacies are preparing

SALT LAKE CITY — Some Utahns are planning to roll up their sleeves for a third vaccine after the CDC and FDA approved a booster for a wider group of Americans this week. 

The FDA has authorized Pfizer booster shots for those over age 65, those with underlying health conditions, and those with high risk jobs. The CDC must still weigh in. @US_FDA @pfizer #CovidVaccine#COVIDBoosterhttps://t.co/obybZsp8e1 pic.twitter.com/EdONGtDyGO

— KSL NewsRadio (@kslnewsradio) September 23, 2021

Ready for a booster

McLean Cross works as alumni coordinator for Brighton Recovery Center. The Utah-based drug and alcohol treatment facility has 50 beds. 

With the new federal guidance allowing adults at higher risk of getting or spreading COVID-19 in their workplace to get a booster, Cross is onboard. 

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“Especially in our facilities, getting it can … cause a lot of work issues, in the sense of us maintaining our facilities and being able to stay open,” he says. 

The 36-year-old has another concern: he’s a new father. 

“I also have a child who had heart complications after birth in the past year,” he explains. 

Cross says he and his wife are in total agreement about them both getting a booster shot for their health and their son’s. 

Planning on a third shot

Abilene Bosco is a licensed massage therapist and owner of Higher Healing Massage. 

She wants to keep herself healthy and her clients safe, so she plans to get a third dose. 

“I’m touching people all day and I do my best to sanitize after everyone, clean sheets all the time … but we are in a closed room,” she says. 

Bosco still wears a mask while working with clients because of the highly contagious delta variant. 

BREAKING: Utah crosses 500,000 cases of COVID-19 since reporting began.

Of the 1,672 new cases since yesterday, 358 are school aged children.

587 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19.

9 more Utahns have died.

5,159 vaccine doses administered since yesterday. pic.twitter.com/oyI6j2NdqO

— KSL NewsRadio (@kslnewsradio) September 24, 2021

However, she also has more personal reasons for getting another shot. 

“My husband has asthma,” says Bosco. “Also, my dad, who is the healthiest 72-year-old, got COVID and almost died. [He] was put in the ICU.” 

“Why not take it?” 

Cross and Bosco both agree: it makes sense to get vaccinated. 

“I tend to trust the CDC,” Cross says. “I don’t see a reason not to trust them. We’re trying to get back to as normal a life as possible, while still maintaining safety for ourselves but more importantly for our child. So, anything that’s going to allow that to happen … I’m more than willing to do.” 

He says he would get the vaccines, including a booster, whether the shots received federal authorization. 

Bosco feels like it’s the least we can do to put an end to the pandemic.

“Scientists and doctors have been working so hard to get help for us. They gave us these vaccines for free, they’re FDA approved. In my opinion, we have to do what we can to stop this thing. So, ‘why not take it?’ is more my question,” Bosco says.  

Utahns already signing up for third vaccine

Walgreen’s is one of the first providers to announce its intention to start giving out booster shots immediately. 

The Walgreen’s pharmacy at 531 East 400 South in Salt Lake City confirms it has the supply and is ready to give out third doses as of Friday. 

A pharmacy technician tells KSL the downtown location is already receiving requests for appointments from Utahns.