Those eligible for the second booster of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna could begin receiving the shot March 31 at Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN).

LVHN continues to urge unvaccinated individuals to get vaccinated and the vaccinated to get booster shots. National figures indicate nearly 50 percent of those eligible for their first booster have not yet received it, according to an LVHN press release.

“In the current state of this pandemic, the most vulnerable populations now can get a second COVID-19 booster shot,” said Alex Benjamin, MD, Chief Infection Control and Prevention Officer, LVHN, adding, “The availability of second boosters is crucial to protecting our community if or when another surge of COVID-19 occurs.”

LVHN has administered more than 600,000 COVID-19 vaccine shots since the beginning of the pandemic.

The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave the green light to a second COVID-19 booster shot for two segments of the population: those 50 and older regardless of health condition and those as young as 12 with a compromised immune system.

Individuals should discuss the timing of the booster shot with their healthcare-provider.

Appointments and walk-in visits are available at two LVHN COVID-19 vaccine clinics in Lehigh and Northampton counties.

To schedule an appointment: MyLVHN.org; 833-584-6283 (833-LVHN-CVD)

COVID-19 booster shot information: LVHN.org/booster