COVID-19 Resource Center Vaccinates Hundreds With Updated Boosters

Schedule Changes Reflect Limited Supply

Caption: Kevin Snow is a Bennington resident and retired Energizer employee who received an updated booster for COVID-19 at the COVID Resource Center on Tuesday, September 13.

BENNINGTON, VT—September 13, 2022— More than 200 people were vaccinated with updated bivalent boosters for COVID-19 at Southwestern Vermont Health Care’s (SVHC) COVID-19 Resource Center this morning. The clinic exhausted its supply of Moderna and will be offering Pfizer boosters only in the coming days.

In addition, a limited number of Pfizer shots available for Thursday’s clinic has caused the health system to reduce clinic hours to 8 – 10 a.m. on Thursday, September 15.

“Both the Pfizer and Moderna bivalent vaccines are equally effective,” said Trey Dobson, MD, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center’s chief medical officer. “The most important step is to get one as soon as you can.”

The COVID-19 Resource Center is located on the former campus of Southern Vermont College at 982 Mansion Drive in Bennington. The Center expects to resume normal hours—8 a.m. – noon Tuesdays and Thursdays—starting Tuesday, September 20, though only Pfizer shots are expected to be available for the next few weeks. Service is provided on a walk-in basis during operating hours. No appointment is needed.

To be eligible, you must:

1. Be at least 12 years old.
2. Have received the primary series of vaccination for COVID
3. Have received your final dose of COVID vaccine, whether as one of the primary series or a booster, at least 2 months ago

More information about bivalent boosters is available at https://svhealthcare.org/Wellness-Connection/bivalent-boosters. The primary series of COVID-19 vaccines are also available.

Southwestern Vermont Health Care will run walk-in flu shot clinics on Saturdays throughout the month of October. The clinics will offer both traditional and high-dose flu vaccine. High-dose vaccine is available to those 65 or older. Additional details will be posted at svhealthcare.org and facebook.com/svmedicalcenter. Note that insurances will be billed and patients may receive a bill for the remaining cost.

About SVHC:
Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) is a comprehensive, preeminent, healthcare system providing exceptional, convenient, and affordable care to the communities of Bennington and Windham Counties of Vermont, eastern Rensselaer and Washington Counties of New York, and northern Berkshire County in Massachusetts. SVHC includes Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer Center, the Centers for Living and Rehabilitation, and the SVHC Foundation. SVMC includes 25 primary and specialty care practices. 

Southwestern Vermont Health Care is among the most lauded small rural health systems in the nation. It is the recipient of the American Hospital Association’s 2020 Rural Hospital Leadership Award. In addition, SVMC ranked fourth nationwide for the value of care it provides by the Lown Institute Hospital Index in 2020 and is a five-time recipient of the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet® recognition for nursing excellence. The health system is fortunate to have the support of platinum-level corporate sponsor Mack, a leading supplier of contract manufacturing services and injection molded plastic parts based in Arlington, VT.

Southwestern Vermont Medical Center provides exceptional care without discriminating on the basis of an individual’s age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. Language assistance services, free of charge, are available at 1-800-367-9559.