COVID-19 Bivalent Vaccine Now Available
Updated COVID-19 Boosters Available for Everyone 12 and Older.
Updated boosters are becoming available in North Carolina this week, following the Food and Drug Administration’s authorization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s announcement that people 12 and older can receive an updated booster to protect against the latest COVID-19 variants.
The updated booster is referred to as a bivalent vaccine — it targets both the original coronavirus strain and the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants. It relies on safety and efficacy data from initial clinical trials, studies of bivalent boosters, and extensive safety and effectiveness monitoring. This process is similar to the one used to create the annual flu vaccine, which targets new strains each year. The booster, like all COVID-19 vaccines, is safe to take alongside the annual flu vaccine.
As of mid-August, these new subvariants made up nearly 90% of COVID-19 cases in North Carolina. People ages 5-11 years can still receive the original booster, but it is expected that the updated booster will be available for younger people in the coming weeks.
COVID-19 vaccines are free to everyone, regardless of insurance or immigration status. People should get the updated COVID-19 booster two months after they finish their primary series or any booster dose. Go to MySpot.nc.gov to find your COVID-19 booster location.
