MAHEC and UNC Asheville Partner with FEMA to Offer COVID-19 Vaccines and Booster Shots on University’s Campus Beginning Friday, October 1st

September 29, 2021

The Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) and the University of North Carolina Asheville (UNC Asheville) are continuing their strong partnership to protect Western North Carolina from COVID-19, this time joining forces with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Starting in October 2021, UNC Asheville, MAHEC and FEMA will operate a walk-in COVID-19 immunization site and booster clinic at the UNC Asheville Reuter Center located on 1 Campus View Road in Asheville.

Vaccinations will be available at the Reuter Center on weekends in October.  November dates will be added if there is enough demand.

  • Fridays in October: 1:00 to 8:00 p.m.
  • Saturdays and Sundays in October: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

No appointments are required to enter the site. All three vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson) will be available for those seeking their first or second dose.

Pfizer-BioNTech booster shots will also be available for individuals who meet the eligibility criteria established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC’s recommendations apply only to individuals who received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine at least 6 months ago.

According to the CDC, the following individuals should get a booster shot:

The following individuals may consider getting a booster shot after discussing the potential risks and benefits with a healthcare provider:
  • people 18–49 years of age with certain underlying medical conditions
  • people 18–64 years of age who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of their occupational or institutional setting
  • people 18–64 years of age who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of their occupational or institutional setting, including if you work in a high-risk profession, meaning you come into contact with a lot of people, and you don’t know their vaccination status; for example, health care workers, first responders, teachers, food processing workers, retail and restaurant workers, and public transportation workers. The group also includes individuals who live or work in a place where many people live together; for example, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, migrant farm housing, dormitories or other group living settings in colleges or universities. 
People can self-attest that they are in one of these groups. Proof is not needed.

Currently, booster doses are not recommended for those who received Moderna or J&J vaccines, but may be recommended in the future after the CDC conducts a thorough review of safety and efficacy data.

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