Edmonds woman explains why she got a COVID-19 booster shot
Aug 16, 2021, 3:53 PM | Updated: 4:24 pm
A pharmacist waits for patients at a COVID-19 vaccination clinic on the UW campus on May 18, 2021, in Seattle. The two-day clinic offered newly-vaccinated patients a free Dick's Drive-In burger when they left. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)
(Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)
An Edmonds City Council candidate got her COVID-19 booster shot Monday morning.
Alicia Crank says she is immunocompromised and actively campaigning in public and in person so she wants the extra protection.
Where COVID cases rates, hospitalizations are highest in Washington
On Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorizations for both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to allow for the use of an additional dose in certain immunocompromised individuals. The third shot was specifically recommended for solid organ transplant recipients or those diagnosed with conditions that are considered to have an equivalent level of immunocompromise.
This extension does not apply to people who are not immunocompromised and the FDA says other fully vaccinated individuals do not need an additional dose right now.
Crank said the drug store she went to for her third shot was walk-in only, no appointments.
“You had to check off that these things apply to you, that you qualify to get that booster,” Crank said.
“When I posted on social media that I had got the booster,” Crank told KIRO Radio, “a lot of people were like, ‘Oh, you can get it now?'”
She did say the pharmacy asked her for proof of vaccination in the form her of vaccine card before giving her the third Pfizer shot.
“I know that they’re saying that the original vaccines would pretty much take care of any of the other variants, but I figure that the booster couldn’t hurt, especially as someone who’s still going to be out and about more because of running for office and campaigning,” she said.
“I just wanted to make sure I had that extra level of protection as necessary because we still don’t know how many other variants might be out there and how strong they could be,” Crank added.
Washington hospitals CEO: Texas, Florida COVID response ‘putting us all in jeopardy’
Crank had mild side effects from the earlier shots, but had not yet had any reaction when she spoke to KIRO Radio a few hours after the third.
