Booster doses put on hold until bivalent booster released
As of Sept. 2, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated recommendations for people ages 12 years and older receiving COVID-19 booster doses.
While Moderna, Pfizer, Novavax, and, in some cases, Johnson & Johnson, remain available and recommended for the primary COVID-19 vaccination series, all booster doses moving forward will be the new bivalent mRNA booster. The bivalent boosters were created by Moderna and Pfizer to strengthen protection against the original COVID-19 strain and the currently circulating Omicron variant.
The CDC is recommending the mRNA bivalent booster for everyone age 12 years and older at least two months after completion of a primary vaccine series, or at least two months after a booster dose. The bivalent mRNA vaccines are for booster doses only. Completion of a primary vaccine series (Pfizer, Moderna, or Novavax) or single dose (Johnson & Johnson/Janssen) is required. Additional recommendations for timing of booster doses are anticipated from the CDC when updates to the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Considerations are completed.
These recommendations replace previous booster recommendations for people ages 12 years and older. Moving forward, everyone who is eligible for a booster will receive one booster dose. This new recommendation is regardless of the number of previous doses received, or individual risk factors such as age or medical condition.
Currently, Wyandot County Public Health is suspending all booster doses for those ages 12 and older. Wyandot County Public Health has preordered the bivalent boosters and is awaiting release of the vaccines from the state. Once the shipment is received, Wyandot County Public Health will resume providing booster vaccinations to those 12 and older. Shipments are anticipated to start the week of Sept. 12, but it is unclear when these bivalent boosters will be received and become available to the public. Wyandot County Public Health will update its social media channels (@WyandotHealth), website wyandothealth.com, and local news media as information becomes available.
Currently, the Walk-in Wednesday clinics are open to all those ages 18 and older who need primary series vaccinations only. At this time, Wyandot County Public Health is offering only the Moderna primary series. No booster doses will be administered until the bivalent mRNA booster dose is received. For the time being, Primary Series-Only Walk-in Wednesday clinics are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays at Wyandot County Public Health.
Similarly, pediatric and adolescent COVID-19 vaccine clinics, open to those 6 months to 17 years, will be offering only the primary series of Moderna for those 12 and older, while awaiting receipt of the bivalent boosters. Children ages 5 years through 11 years who received the Pfizer vaccine and have been eligible for boosters can continue to receive a booster of the same lower-dose formulation at least 5 months after completion of the primary series. There are no changes to the recommended COVID-19 vaccine schedules for children ages 6 months through 11 years. These clinics are by appointment-only from 12-6 p.m. Mondays and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays at Wyandot County Public Health. To schedule call 419-294-3852.
