Photo: Winona County Emergency Management
WINONA, Minn. (KWNO)-Local health experts are anticipating the need for a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot as the virus continues to mutate.
“Time will tell in all of these but it does appear that we will be dealing with this virus for some time to come,” Winona Health President/CEO Rachelle Schultz said. “My guess would be that we will be doing boosters come fall.”
Winona County Public Health Supervisor Melanie Tatge says like the influenza vaccine, the COVID vaccine booster could be offered on a yearly basis.
“We at Winona County Public Health are also looking to work with partners to see how [the booster shots] would be implemented in Winona County. We have come preliminary conversations out there,” said Tatge. “Just waiting for the finalized word they’re actually going to be needed and what the state’s process will be to be receiving those.”
Tatge and Schultz said it’s unclear how long the protection from the vaccine lasts. They both said the shots have been effective at slowing the spread of the virus and its variants.
The Minnesota Department of Health Tuesday reported 95 new COVID-19 infections on Tuesday. It was the first time new cases were under 100 since April of 2020.
As of June 13, 66% of Minnesotans ages 16 and older have gotten at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.
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