SUBLETTE COUNTY — The Moderna vaccine against COVID-19 is now available at Sublette County Public Health. The organization confirmed it has received the first order of Moderna COVID Spikevax vaccine, meant for individuals 6 months of age and older.

The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) encourages everyone 6 months and older to get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to help protect against potentially serious COVID-19 illness in the coming months.

“We’ve seen the virus that causes COVID-19 continue to change and we’ve learned protection from COVID-19 vaccines is valuable, but does decline over time,” said Dr. Alexia Harrist, state health officer and state epidemiologist with WDH. “The newly available COVID-19 vaccine versions have been updated. Even if you’ve previously been vaccinated or ill with COVID-19 they can boost your protection from the more recent versions of the virus.”

“Unfortunately, COVID-19 remains a concern, especially for those who are most vulnerable to its threat,” Harrist said. “We have seen some indications of increased activity lately, but, thankfully, we are not facing the same situation as in earlier pandemic stages and that is largely due to vaccines and the protection they can offer from serious illness, hospitalization and death.”

Harrist said an updated vaccine dose offers an extra layer of protection against severe disease, including for those who have been ill with COVID-19 or who have been vaccinated previously. “You should receive a dose of the updated vaccine if it has been at least two months since your last vaccination and at least three months since your symptoms began if you had COVID-19,” she said.

While COVID-19 vaccine costs are no longer completely covered by federal programs, most health insurance plans will cover the cost for a COVID vaccination. Moderna vaccine costs $135 per dose. Sublette County Public Health can bill Medicare, BCBS, Cigna, and UMR for the vaccination — please call your insurance provider to verify individual coverage.

People without health insurance or with health plans that do not cover COVID-19 vaccine fees can receive a low-cost vaccine from providers participating in a federal effort known as the “Bridge Access Program.” Children without insurance can receive the COVID-19 vaccine from providers enrolled in the federal Vaccines for Children program. Sublette County Public Health is participating in these programs to provide vaccine to uninsured or underinsured individuals within the county.

Call Sublette County Public Health at 307-367-2157 to schedule your appointment. If attending a scheduled clinic, please bring a completed consent form with you. Consent forms can be picked up at both public health office locations, senior centers and online at www.sublettecountywy.gov/179/Public-Health (located under COVID Consent Form, lower right column under “Quick Links”).

Scheduled COVID and flu vaccine clinics

• Marbleton Public Health, (inside senior center) 429 2nd St., Big Piney, Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Pinedale Public Health, 380 Faler Ave., Pinedale, Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., call 307-367-2157 to schedule an appointment.