The Christian County Health Department will begin administering newly updated boosters on Thursday, Sept. 15, the department announced on Tuesday. The shots — also known as bivalent vaccines — specifically target dominant Omicron subvariants.
On Aug. 31, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the updated Moderna and Pfizer shots for use as boosters at least two months after primary vaccination or initial booster. The updated shots contain a combination of the original vaccine formula and one targeting the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants.
The Moderna booster is authorized for all individuals 18 and older, while the Pfizer shot may be administered to anyone 12 and older. The health department will offer both shots, according to its release.
Appointments are not required. The health department will administer the vaccines from 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Thursday.
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“The COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters, continue to save countless lives and prevent the most serious outcomes (hospitalization and death) of COVID-19,” FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. said in a news release announcing the authorization. “As we head into fall and begin to spend more time indoors, we strongly encourage anyone who is eligible to consider receiving a booster dose with a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine to provide better protection against currently circulating variants.”
Julia Hunter is the engagement editor for Hoptown Chronicle. Reach her at julia@hoptownchronicle.org.
