December 9, 2021

SLCoHD Expands COVID Vaccine Clinics

(SALT LAKE COUNTY)—Today, Salt Lake County Health Department (SLCoHD) announced an expansion of its COVID vaccine efforts to help people in the county protect themselves against the delta and omicron variants of the virus that causes COVID. Beginning immediately and operating through January 30, 2022, the department will offer COVID vaccination on weekends at two sites in the county.

Dr. Angela Dunn, executive director of SLCoHD, challenged vaccinated adults who live or work in Salt Lake County to receive their recommended booster—and encouraged children and unvaccinated people to complete the initial vaccine series—by February 1, 2022.

"The omicron variant appears to be more transmissible than previous variants, and it has caused increased hospitalizations in South Africa," said Dr. Dunn. "Being fully vaccinated—plus booster, if applicable—is the best way to prevent yourself from being hospitalized from COVID. Our hospitals cannot handle another surge of COVID patients."

SLCoHD's expanded vaccine clinics join numerous other opportunities to be vaccinated in the community, including the department's pop-up clinics in under-resourced communities each week, local pharmacies and mass vaccination sites operated by Community Nursing Services and Nomi Health. All sites except pharmacies allow people to attend without an appointment, though SLCoHD recommends people make appointments to decrease their wait time. Pop-up community clinics operate without appointments.

All sites offer both adult and pediatric vaccine doses, plus boosters.

"The health department's COVID vaccine clinics offer an efficient way for everyone to get the vaccine dose they need," said Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson. "Stop by on your way to do your holiday shopping or on your way to or from work and get vaccinated or boosted. We all need to do our part to protect our hospital system and healthcare workers from being overwhelmed. Vaccines are our ticket out of this crisis as a community and I encourage all eligible residents to become vaccinated.” 

Dr. Dunn will be available for media interviews today, December 9, at 1:30pm at Salt Lake County Government Center, Suite S2-600, at 2001 South State Street in Salt Lake City.