Here’s the latest on COVID-19 vaccine boosters:
What was approved?
Updated COVID-19 booster vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on August 31, 2022. On September 1, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also approved and recommended the updated boosters. You can check the CDC website for updates.
What is the updated COVID-19 vaccine booster?
The new COVID-19 booster vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer are updated versions of the original vaccines. The updated boosters are “bivalent,” which means they protect against two different viruses or two strains of the same virus. This type of vaccine is not new. Many common vaccines, like the flu vaccine, can protect against even more than two types of viruses or virus strains. The updated COVID-19 boosters target the original COVID-19 strain and the newer omicron variant. Reported side effects seem to be the same as the original vaccine.
Who can get an updated booster?
Anyone age 12 or older is eligible for the updated booster if:
- They completed a primary vaccination series with one of the COVID-19 vaccines AND
- At least 2 months have passed since the last dose of primary vaccine series or any booster dose
Please note you are eligible for this updated booster no matter how many previous booster shots you have received.
Are the updated boosters approved for all ages?
- Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 booster: approved for patients ages 12 and older
- Moderna bivalent COVID-19 booster: approved for patients ages 18 and older
When and where can I get an updated booster?
Manet patients, can receive the updated booster at any regularly scheduled appointment, such as a physical, medical, behavioral health or vision appointment. Just ask your provider at the time of your visit.
Manet is also offering COVID-19 vaccine and booster clinics for patients and community residents at the following Manet locations and times:
- North Quincy: Thursdays, 5-7 p.m.; Saturdays, September 24 and October 1, 9 a.m.- Noon
- Taunton: Monday, September 19, 5-7 p.m. and Tuesdays, 9-11:30 a.m.
- Attleboro: Mondays beginning September 19, 5:30-7 p.m.
Appointments are required. To schedule an appointment, call the site or schedule online at www.manetchc.org/covid-19-vaccine/
You may also get a booster at many other locations across the Commonwealth. To find a location near you, go to vaxfinder.mass.gov. You can also text your zip code to 438829 or call 1-800-232-0233.
What about the previous booster?
With the FDA and CDC approval of the updated boosters, the original COVID-19 vaccines are no longer approved as boosters for people ages 12 years and older. The FDA and CDC made this decision because the updated booster is designed to offer more protection from the circulating omicron variant.
What about for children ages 5-11 years?
The original Pfizer booster is recommended for children ages 5-11 years. For now, children ages 5-11 should continue to get the original Pfizer booster. The FDA and CDC will evaluate the updated booster for children less than 12 years as data becomes available.
What if I have not received the primary COVID-19 vaccine series?
You should still get the original vaccines for your primary vaccine series. You can find more information about COVID-19 primary vaccination series on the CDC website.