The Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidance that people age 12 and older can get an updated Moderna booster shot against new COVID-19 variants.

A new COVID-19 booster shot is here.

The Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that people aged 12 and older can receive an updated Pfizer and Moderna booster shot to protect from new COVID variants.

Original booster doses have been paused in Mecklenburg County to people 12 and older because of the newest vaccine arriving, according to the health department. Children age 5-11 years are still eligible for the initial COVID booster and approval for younger adolescents is expected in the coming weeks.

According to the FDA, these enhanced vaccines, “are expected to provide increased protection against the currently circulating omicron variant.”

Dr. Katie Passaretti, infectious disease expert at Atrium Health recommends getting the shot in late September or in October before another surge occurs.

“I think the key is getting an updated booster period and getting it before we hit the stride of respiratory viral season any kind of future surges,” Passaretti said. “I don't think you need to run out right this second and be the first in line to get it, but I do think getting it over the next month to six weeks, eight weeks is the best way we can protect our community for upcoming respiratory viral season.”

Vaccines are expected to arrive as early as this week at Atrium Health.

The new booster known as a bivalent vaccine targets the original coronavirus strain and the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants.

Based on data from clinical trials, studies on bivalent vaccines, and close monitoring, this COVID shot will be safe and effective. This research process is similar to creating the annual flu inoculation, which targets new strains each year.

“This vaccine will provide the most up-to-date protection against the latest variants and will help renew your body’s defense system against severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19,” said North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. “As the weather gets colder and we spend more time indoors, it is important to know you are protected before you go to gatherings, which means getting your COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.”

Nearly 90% of new cases in North Carolina are from the BA.4 and BA.5 variants as of mid-August according to the state health department.
Booster shots are safe to take at the same time as the flu vaccine.

The state will receive about 500,000 doses within the next two weeks with 229,000 doses distributed to pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens.
Health officials recommend people receive the COVID shot two months after their primary vaccine series or booster dose.

“We've seen that protection from the vaccine kind of decreases the further out you go from the boosters right,” Passaretti said. “That's why we did why they're being updated at this point in time. I'd say if you're more than two months out, certainly consider it. If you're like four months, six months, probably kind of go out and get that booster for sure.”

If a person tested positive for COVID, they should wait “three to six months” before receiving the second booster shot, Passaretti added.

For more information on vaccines and where to make appointments visit MySpot.nc.gov.

Aaliyah Bowden, who covers health at The Post, is a Report For America corps member.

Comments