Second Updated Booster Available for those 65 and Older, and Immunocompromised

People 65 and older, as well as most people with compromised immunity, are now authorized to receive a second bivalent COVID-19 booster dose. As of today, Monday, April 24, the second bivalent dose is available in Oregon.

The updated booster doses are available at local doctor’s offices and pharmacies. They are also offered by North Central Public Health District. To make an appointment, please call 541-506-2600.

Those 65 and older can get a second bivalent booster if it’s been at least four months since their first bivalent booster. People who are immunocompromised can receive a second bivalent booster at least two months after their last updated booster. They can receive further boosters on a schedule determined by their doctor.

The bivalent mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna were initially authorized last September as single-dose boosters, and federal health authorities last week authorized and recommended a second bivalent booster dose for certain at-risk populations.

A second booster dose was made available to these groups because older adults and people with compromised immune systems are at higher risk for severe COVID-19, and data show that the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines wanes over time. An additional dose of the updated vaccine offers this group extra protection from getting seriously ill with COVID-19.

Additionally, the original (monovalent) mRNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer have been discontinued. Now, COVID-19 mRNA primary series will consist of one bivalent dose for most people and multiple doses for younger children.

The bivalent dose includes protection against both the original COVID strain as well as the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of the Omicron variant.

The CDC continues to recommend multi-dose series for young children (as young as 6 months), and these recommendations vary by age, vaccine, and which COVID-19 vaccines they previously received. 

For details on children’s doses, please visit the CDC’s website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html#children.

The CDC continues to recommend that everyone ages 6 years and older receive an updated (bivalent) mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Individuals ages 6 years and older who have already received an updated mRNA vaccine do not need to take any action unless they are 65 years or older or immunocompromised.

For young children, multiple doses continue to be recommended and will vary by age, vaccine, and which vaccines were previously received.

For more information, please visit COVID-19 Vaccine in Oregon, contact North Central Public Health District at (541) 506-2600, visit us on the web at www.ncphd.org or find us on Facebook.)

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