Amid dwindling cases, Forsyth County gears up to offer second COVID-19 booster shots

Forsyth County Public Health officials are preparing to offer second COVID-19 booster shots to people with high-risk health conditions and those over 50. The news comes as case numbers continue to decrease. 

The county is now seeing about 100 new COVID-19 cases per week. Back in January, officials were reporting about 1,000 per day. Public Health Director Joshua Swift says the BA.2 variant could reverse the downward trend, but he's not too concerned about it. 

“So, yes, we've gotten so low, I think it's just eventually we'll start to see some increase," says Swift. "We're hopeful that it won't be a huge surge just because we have so many people that are vaccinated, so many people that have had COVID, or had both – had vaccines and COVID.”

So far about 72% of Forsyth County adults are considered fully vaccinated. Statewide, that number is 76%. About half of the state's population has received a booster. 

Swift says the department will provide second booster shots to those at high risk for severe illness starting this Monday. Clinic hours are Monday-Wednesday 12-5 p.m., Thursday 12-8 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.