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Community
Community
EAST LANSING – Fall is the season for pumpkin patches, starting school and keeping up to date on vaccinations. On Sept. 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved two new bivalent COVID-19 boosters. The new bivalent formulation provides protection against the original strain of the COVID-19 virus and two widely circulating versions of the Omicron variant.
The CDC is recommending Pfizer-BioNTech boosters for people aged five years and older, and the Moderna booster for people aged six years and older.
CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, said in a statement, “The updated COVID-19 boosters are formulated to better protect against the most recently circulating COVID-19 variant. They can help restore protection that has waned since previous vaccination and were designed to provide broader protection against newer variants. This recommendation followed a comprehensive scientific evaluation and robust scientific discussion. If you are eligible, there is no bad time to get your COVID-19 booster and I strongly encourage you to receive it.”
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the bivalent boosters for use in those who received their primary series or initial booster two months ago or more.
You do not need to have the same brand of booster shot that you received for your primary vaccine series if you meet the age requirements. So, if you have completed the Pfizer vaccine series and are over six years of age, you may take the Moderna booster. If you have completed the Moderna vaccine series and are over five years of age, you may take the Pfizer vaccine.
To find a vaccine, check with your primary care physician, local health departments, pharmacies and clinics. You can also visit vaccines.gov to locate a vaccine clinic near you.