City Offers Third COVID-19 Vaccine Dose for Immunocompromised Individuals
EL PASO, Texas — The City of El Paso is now providing a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to individuals who are moderately to severely immunocompromised.
A third dose will only be administered 28 days after receiving the second dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine to those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised individuals:
- Receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
- Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g., DiGeorge syndrome and Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
- Advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress the immune response
Individuals are strongly encouraged to talk to their healthcare provider about their medical condition, and whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for them.
COVID-19 third doses are available by appointment only at the following locations:
- 301 George Perry – Monday – Saturday: 8 a.m. to Noon and 1 to 5 p.m.
- El Paso Convention Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza – Monday – Friday: Noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- City of El Paso COVID-19 Clinics – Monday – Saturday: 8 a.m. to Noon and 1 to 5 p.m.
– 220 S. Stanton (corner of First and Stanton
– 9341 Alameda
– 7380 Remcon
– 9566 Railroad
To make an appointment visit EPCovidVaccine.com and click on the registration form, or call (915) 212-6843.
THIRD DOSE, NOT A BOOSTER
Health officials note that this third dose is NOT a booster. The third dose follows 28 days after an initial vaccine series is administered to people who may not have a strong enough immune response after receiving the initial vaccine series. A booster dose is a supplemental dose given to individuals whose immune response has weakened over time and administered eight (8) months after an initial vaccine series is administered.
The City of El Paso is preparing to administer the booster shots in late September once federal and state guidelines are provided.
Health officials remind the public to continue wearing face covers, wash your hands frequently and watch your distancing, regardless of whether you have or have not yet received the vaccine. Additional information about COVID-19, can be found at www.EPStrong.org.
City Unveils New COVID-19 Vaccination Website, Registration and Booking System
EL PASO, Texas — The City of El Paso introduced its new COVID-19 Vaccine website at EPCovidVaccine.com for the community which includes an updated registration form and an online scheduling system.
This user-friendly website includes information on the current COVID-19 vaccination priority phase, the necessary steps to register and prepare for the vaccine, frequently asked questions (FAQs) and a listing of other potential local vaccine providers.
The website also features an updated registration form. Individuals who have already registered and received a confirmation email advising them they have registered, do not need to register again as their place in line is reserved. Those who have not yet registered are advised to visit EPCovidVaccine.com or call 21-COVID (212-6843) to complete the registration process.
As vaccines become available, residents who have registered will move forward in the queue and will receive an email and text message from the City’s new scheduling system advising them that they are eligible to book their COVID-19 vaccine.
Residents will receive a unique registration identification that allows them to book their vaccine appointment online. Once booked, residents will then receive a confirmation email and/or text with appointment details. Individual appointments cannot be transferred to another person.
Individuals who registered with the City but do not have an email or cellular phone will be called via the landline number provided during the registration process in order to book their vaccine appointment.
The City of El Paso is offering the vaccine at no cost to the public, and will not ask you for your Social Security Number or financial/banking information as part of the vaccination dispensing process. However, we do ask for your health insurance information. If you have no insurance, you will still receive the vaccine at no cost.
Residents who have registered with the City, but who have already received the vaccine from another healthcare provider are asked to please send an email to removevaccinelist@elpasotexas.gov requesting to be deleted from the City’s list and allowing other residents to get vaccinated faster.
The City is currently dispensing the available doses to priority groups in Phase 1, Group A and B. Group 1A includes healthcare providers and first and last responders on the immediate frontlines of the pandemic response and at high risk of being exposed to COVID-19. Group 1B includes people 65 years of age and older, and those 16 years of age and older with at least one chronic medical condition, to include but not limited to diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer.
Individuals who are part of either group can register for the vaccine by clicking on this link and submitting the pre-registration form. Once pre-registered, residents will be notified about the availability of the vaccine and be provided with the next steps.
For more information about the COVID-19 vaccination program, visit EPStrong.org.
FDA expands list of hand sanitizers considered toxic due to methanol The FDA said its testing found methanol in more than a dozen brands of potentially toxic hand sanitizer.
The Food and Drug Administration has added several more brands to its growing list of hand sanitizers that may be potentially toxic. Six additional brands recently tested positive for methanol, a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested and can be potentially deadly when ingested, the FDA said. This comes just a few weeks after the FDA warned consumers to avoid hand sanitizers from Mexico-based manufacturer Eskbiochem SA de CV, due to the potential presence of methanol, or wood alcohol, in its products.
The warnings come at a time when hand sanitizer purchases have surged because of the coronavirus pandemic. The FDA said it has seen a “sharp increase in hand sanitizer products that are labeled to contain ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol) but that have tested positive for methanolcontamination.”
The FDA warned that young children who accidentally ingest these potentially toxic hand sanitizers and those who may drink it as an alcohol substitute are most at risk of suffering methanol poisoning. The symptoms of substantial methanol exposure includes nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death.
The agency said it’s aware of adults and children ingesting hand sanitizer products contaminated with methanol recently and suffering blindness, hospitalizations and even death.
The FDA stressed that washing your hands with soap and water is one of the best defenses against coronavirus. But if soap and water isn’t available, the CDC recommends using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% ethanol.
Sanitizers containing methanol
The FDA said consumers should not use the following hand sanitizers because tests found the products contained methanol or the products were “purportedly made at the same facility as products in which FDA has tested and confirmed methanol contamination”
– AAA Cosmetica (Mexico): bio aaa Advance Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 76987-402-01)
– AAA Cosmetica (Mexico): LumiSkin Advance Hand Sanitizer 4oz (NDC: 76987-120-01)
– AAA Cosmetica (Mexico): LumiSkin Advance Hand Sanitizer 16 oz (NDC: 76987-402-02)
– AAA Cosmetica (Mexico): QualitaMed Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 76987-250-01)
– Grupo Insoma, S.A.P.I de CV (Mexico): Hand sanitizer Gel Unscented 70% Alcohol (NDCs: 75744-0200-3, 75744-0200-4, 75744-0201-5,
75744-0202-1, 75744-0250-1, 75744-0250-2, 75744-0500-1, 75744-1000-1, 75744-1000-3, 75744-1001-1)
– Soluciones Cosmeticas SA de CV (Mexico): Soluciones Cosmeticas SA de CV (Mexico) – Bersih Hand Sanitizer Gel Fragrance Free (NDCs: 75165-003-02, 75165-004-01, 75165-005-01, 75165-006-01, 75165-008-01, 75165-250-01, 75165-600-01)
– Soluciones Cosmeticas SA de CV (Mexico) – Antiseptic
Alcohol 70% Topical Solution hand sanitizer (No NDC listed)
– Transliquid Technologies (Mexico): Mystic Shield Protection hand sanitizer (NDCs 75477-435-02, 75477-435-10, 75477-435-12, 75477-435-25, 75477-435-50,75477-534-10)
The FDA said its investigation of methanol in certain hand sanitizers is ongoing
Below are the 9 previous brands the FDA listed as
containing methanol from Eskbiochem SA de CV (Mexico):
– All-Clean Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-002-01)
– Esk Biochem Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-007-01)
– CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-008-04)
– Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-006-01)
– The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer (NDC:74589-010-10)
– CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol (NDC:74589-005-03)
– CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol (NDC:74589-009-01)
– CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol (NDC:74589-003-01)
– Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-001-01)
· NO HANDSHAKING – All handshaking between employees and between employees and customers, suppliers and contractors should be reconsidered
· Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
· Avoid touching as much as possible with the inside of your hand – be especially cautious with gas pump handles, door handles and knobs.
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
· Stay home when you are sick or have these symptoms – headache, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat
· Avoid sharing drinks
· Cough or sneeze into a tissue to cover it, then throw the tissue in the trash – as a last resort use your elbow
· Clean and disinfect frequently-touched objects and surfaces
If you want more information, please go to these trusted sources:
El Paso Department of Health’s website at www.EPHealth.com, www.EPSalud.com, or the CDC’s website: https://bit.ly/37l9Xi6.
For additional information, please contact 2-1-1 to speak with an information specialist in English or Spanish.