FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.– The Cumberland County Department of Public Health is now offering Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 bivalent vaccination shots for everyone ages 5 years and older. 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 children ages 5 through 11 years and older. The Moderna bivalent vaccine is authorized for adolescents 6-17 years
“The availability of updated COVID-19 boosters for our children and teens is important to increase the level of immunity in the community, especially as we move closer to the fall and winter holiday season,” said Cumberland County Health Director Jennifer Green.
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 with the authorization of the updated boosters. Children and adolescents 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, 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.
COVID-19 vaccines remain available at the Cumberland County Health Department, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Everyone ages 6 months and older can receive a free COVID-19 vaccine regardless of health insurance or immigration status.
Visit cumberlandcountync.gov/publichealth or call 910-433-3707 for more information about the Cumberland County Department of Health and our COVID-19 response.