News Flash

For Immediate Release

08/23/2021    

COVID-19 Information

Phone: 980-432-1800
Website: www.rowancountync.gov/COVID-19
Email: covid-19@rowancountync.gov

Vaccine Information

Website: www.rowancountync.gov/COVIDvaccine
Follow Us: www.facebook.com/rowancountyhealth 

Rowan County COVID-19 Case Information: https://bit.ly/rowan-covid19-hub

Today the FDA Approves the First COVID-19 Vaccine

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine has been known as the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, and will now be marketed as Comirnaty (koe-mir’-na-tee), for the prevention of COVID-19 disease in individuals 16 years of age and older. The vaccine also continues to be available under emergency use authorization (EUA), including for individuals 12 through 15 years of age and for the administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals.

“The FDA’s approval of this vaccine is a milestone as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. While this and other vaccines have met the FDA’s rigorous, scientific standards for emergency use authorization, as the first FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine, the public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product,” said Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, M.D. “While millions of people have already safely received COVID-19 vaccines, we recognize that for some, the FDA approval of a vaccine may now instill additional confidence to get vaccinated. Today’s milestone puts us one step closer to altering the course of this pandemic in the U.S.” 

With today’s approval and as numbers continue to rapidly rise, Rowan County Public Health cannot emphasize to our community enough about the importance of getting vaccinated. By doing this, you are not only protecting yourself from getting COVID-19, but you are also helping to stop the spread of COVID-19 to your family, friends, and those that you come across within our community.

If you and/or your child still needs to get a COVID vaccine, please visit the CDC’s vaccine finder. Here, you will find a number of local agencies/businesses that are offering COVID vaccines in Rowan County, such as: 

• Novant Health at the J. F. Hurley YMCA; Walk-ins are accepted Wednesdays and Fridays; 8 am – 5 pm 
• Larger chain pharmacies: CVS and Walgreens
• Grocery Stores: Walmart, Food Lion (Salisbury and China Grove), Sam’s Club
• Local pharmacies: Moose Pharmacy, The Medicine Shoppe, and Cannon Pharmacy
• Provider offices: Rowan County Public Health, Rowan Diagnostic Clinic, Pro Med, and Salisbury Pediatric (only for established patients) 

To find out more information about which vaccines are being offered and when they are being offered, please contact the agency/business directly.  It is important to know that when seeking out a COVID vaccine for your child, any child younger than 12 is not currently eligible to receive a vaccine. However, if your child is 12 years old and older, they can receive the following vaccines based on their age:

• Pfizer Vaccine (ages 12-15)
• Comirnaty (age 16+)
• Moderna Vaccine (age 18+)
• Johnson and Johnson (age 18+) 

Please do your part by getting your COVID vaccination as soon as possible! Also, if you have not received a complete COVID vaccination, please continue to practice the 3W’s until you are fully vaccinated. You are not considered fully vaccinated until after 2 weeks of receiving your chosen vaccine. 

If you should have any further questions about getting a COVID vaccine, please feel free to contact our COVID Hotline at 980-432-1800.

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PIO Contact:
Amy Smith
704-216-8859
amy.smith@rowancountync.gov

Download Media Release COVID-19 - August 23, 2021 (PDF)