FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Cumberland County Department of Public Health will offer Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 bivalent vaccination shots for everyone 12 years and older beginning September 7. Shots will be administered at 1235 Ramsey St. in Fayetteville.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized bivalent formulations of the Moderna and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccines. Bivalent vaccines, or “updated boosters,” protect against the original strain of COVID-19 and BA.4 and BA.5 omicron subvariant, according to the FDA. The updated boosters help to restore protection that may have waned since previous vaccination.
The Pfizer bivalent vaccine is authorized for individuals 12 years and older and the Moderna bivalent vaccine is authorized for individuals 18 years and older.
“Vaccines remain our best line of defense against this virus,” said Health Director Jennifer Green. “Everyone who is eligible for an updated booster shot should receive an updated fall booster shot to protect against variants circulating in our community.”
The original COVID-19 vaccines, known as the monovalent Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines, are not authorized as booster doses for individuals 12 years of age and older. Individuals who have not yet received any COVID-19 vaccines or still need to complete their primary COVID-19 vaccines, will continue to receive the monovalent or original COVID-19 vaccines.
The bivalent formulations vaccines were tested and reviewed by the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and their independent scientific committees.
The CDC recommends a single booster dose at least two months following primary or last booster vaccination.
The CDC expects to recommend updated COVID-19 boosters for other pediatric groups in the coming weeks.
COVID-19 vaccines remain available at the Cumberland County Health Department, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Regardless of health insurance or immigration status, everyone ages 6 months and older can receive a free COVID-19 vaccine.
Visit cumberlandcountync.gov/publichealth for more about the Cumberland County Department of Health and our COVID-19 response.