Erie County, NY Department of Health » ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO OFFER NEW BIVALENT COVID-19 VACCINE BOOSTERS

ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO OFFER NEW BIVALENT COVID-19 VACCINE BOOSTERS

Modified: September 12, 2022 3:47pm

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09/12/2022

ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO OFFER NEW BIVALENT COVID-19 VACCINE BOOSTERS

Newly available vaccines protect against omicron variants and boost previous vaccination protection

ERIE COUNTY, NY — On September 1, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new COVID-19 vaccine booster recommendations, after the FDA authorized updated, new booster formulas from both Pfizer and Moderna – “bivalent” vaccines.

What is a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine? These are new COVID-19 vaccine boosters that include components of the Omicron subvariant and the original SARS-CoV-2 virus strain. These new vaccines are designed to give broad protection against COVID-19, including better protection against the Omicron variant which is currently circulating in our community. These newest subvariants are more contagious and able to evade protection that a person might have against earlier subvariants. Booster doses can also restore protection against illness that may have decreased since your last vaccine.

The Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) ordered bivalent Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines. ECDOH received its shipment of Pfizer vaccine booster doses earlier today. ECDOH expects to receive Moderna vaccine booster doses by the end of this week, and will announce when those are available.

ECDOH will offer the new Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster to people ages 12 and older at its mobile vaccine clinics and at the Jesse Nash Health Center, 608 William Street in Buffalo, starting Wednesday, September 14. The Jesse Nash Health Center provides COVID-19 vaccine on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. The COVID-19 vaccine schedule is posted at www.erie.gov/vax and updated regularly. Appointments are suggested but not required. Please bring photo ID and vaccine card, if available. 

ECDOH is confirming COVID-19 vaccine clinics for September and October at community sites and senior centers throughout Erie County. This schedule will be updated regularly at www.erie.gov/vax.

Erie County residents may also schedule a free Vax Visit at home for any COVID-19 vaccine first doses, second doses and boosters. Call (716) 858-2929 to be scheduled.

The CDC recommends that everyone stay up-to-date on vaccinations. Those who are eligible should get a new booster dose at least two months after completing their primary series or at least two months after receiving a booster.

Pfizer’s updated booster dose is recommended for individuals 12 and older, and Moderna’s updated booster dose is recommended for adults 18 and older.

Eligibility for this booster depends on:

  • Your age
  • When you finished primary vaccination
  • When received your most recent booster dose of a monovalent COVID-19 vaccine

The CDC web site has a “When are you up to date?” tool. This guides you through questions about your COVID-19 vaccine history; based on your responses, it provides guidance on getting the updated booster. Talk to your doctor with questions about COVID-19 vaccine and your risk of moderate and severe illness.

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