On Aug. 31 the FDA authorized updated COVID-19 booster shots in advance of the fall. We cannot start administering these new boosters until the CDC issues recommendations for who should receive it. Here are some key pieces of information to know:
- The FDA authorized updated COVID-19 booster shots target the omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants as well as the original strain of the COVID-19 virus..
- This is the first authorized updated COVID-19 vaccine formula since the shots started in December 2020.
- The FDA has authorized the Pfizer updated booster for use in people 12 and older and the updated Moderna booster for use in people age 18 and older. At least two months must have passed since completion of the primary COVID-19 vaccine series or most recent booster was received.
- This new booster can’t be administered until after the CDC issues recommendations for who should receive it and how it should be administered. The CDC could recommend the updated booster for a subset of the population within the FDA authorized age ranges.
- The new boosters are expected to roll out to the public some time after Labor Day weekend. An exact date is not known.
- Effective immediately, previous versioins of COVID-19 vaccines can no longer be adminstered as booster shots for people age 12 years and older. Previous versions of COVID-19 vaccines can still be administeerd as a primary series for people who need to start or complete the initial COVID-19 vaccine series.
The Union County Health Department is not pre-booking appointments for the updated booster and is suspending administering COVID-19 booster shots to people age 12 years and older until the new updated booster is received. We will notify the public as soon as we receive the updated booster to begin scheduling appointments. The Union County Health Department only plans to administer the Pfizer version of the updated booster.