St. Luke's In Duluth Begins Offering 2nd COVID-10 Booster Shots

Are you eligible?

Officials with St. Luke's have begun their plans to begin administering second COVID-19 booster shots (aka "3rd shots" or "4th shots" - depending on what manufacturer) to patients from their Duluth facilities. The shots will be administered in accordance with the guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control in regards to age and medical conditions.

The first availability for the second COVID-19 booster shots will start at St. Luke's on Thursday, April 7; that represents the earliest date that a patient could anticipate receiving one if they qualify. However, in advance of that date, St. Luke's has begun accepting and scheduling those appointments right now.

Nick Cooper - TSM Duluth

As per the guidelines offered by the Centers for Disease Control, a second COVID-19 booster shot is available for patients who meet the following conditions:

50-years of age or older
Those 12-years of age or older, who have "moderate to severely immunocompromised" conditions
Have received a primary vaccine and booster dose of Johnson & Johnson's Janssen (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine

According to details shared by St. Luke's, second booster shots can be given four months after the previous booster dose. Second booster doses from St. Luke's will all be mRNA vaccines (Pfizer or Moderna) even for those who previously received the Johnson & Johnson Janssen variety.

At this point of the response to the pandemic, St. Luke's is not accepting walk ins for COVID-19 vaccines. Patients must schedule an appointment in advance in order to receive their vaccine dose. Those appointments can be coordinated by calling St. Luke's at 218-249-4200.

Nick Cooper - TSM Duluth

What Do I Do If I Lose My COVID-19 Vaccination Card?

When you get your COVID-19 vaccine, you're handed a card that details the date, manufacturer variety, and location of your dose. If you're getting one of the two-dose vaccines (Pfizer or Moderna), you'll need that card to coordinate your second and final dose. But even with the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine and even after getting the second shot, you'll need to keep that card in a safe place.

While nationwide vaccine mandates aren't a thing at the present time, there are a variety of times you might need that card even after completing the vaccine process. Many schools (primary, secondary, and higher education) are requiring the COVID-19 vaccine similar to other vaccinations. Additionally, some entertainment venues and mass transportation are requiring either proof of a negative COVID test or the vaccine card.

So what happens if you lose it? Relax. There are ways of obtaining a replacement - and they differ slightly whether you've lost it before getting both doses or after.