PR: HEALTH AGENCY CLARIFIES GUIDANCE ON COVID-19 BIVALENT BOOSTER

HEALTH AGENCY CLARIFIES GUIDANCE ON COVID-19 BIVALENT BOOSTER

Contact: Public Health Clinic Services Coordinator Scott Bray, 530-245-6298, sbray@shastacounty.gov

SHASTA COUNTY – The Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) is fielding multiple calls from residents who are unclear about whether they need more than one COVID-19 bivalent booster. The health agency offers this guidance:

At this time, after people receive the one-time bivalent booster, they are fully immunized and boosted. The bivalent booster is also called the “updated booster” because it fights against the original virus and newer variants.

Whether a person is considered high-risk, immune-compromised or generally healthy, they do not need more than one “updated” bivalent booster, HHSA Public Health Clinic Services Coordinator Scott Bray said.

“Clients tell us they’re hearing they might need an additional booster. Before the bivalent booster was available, the state did recommend regular boosters, but that’s no longer the case,” Bray said. “Now, once people receive the one-time bivalent booster, they are up-to-date and as immunized as possible.”

In fact, pharmacies and health providers are not authorized to give a second bivalent booster, even though MyTurn.ca.gov (the state’s vaccine scheduling website) may allow people to make an appointment.

The bivalent booster is recommended for adults who has been immunized against COVID-19 with a primary one- or two-dose series, and one or two monovalent boosters. People are eligible for the one-time bivalent booster two months after getting their last monovalent booster. (For children, see the Vaccine Timing charts.)

The CDC or state may recommend another booster in the future. However, there is no anticipated date for that recommendation, Bray said.

Some Shasta County residents are correctly being turned away for bivalent boosters because they are already as vaccinated as possible at this time.

Before making an appointment, check whether you or your child needs a bivalent booster at this CDC website: Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines Including Boosters. The page includes a tool, “Find Out When You Can Get Your Booster.” Or, review your physical CDC vaccination card or digital vaccine record.

The state also offers these Vaccine Timing charts to help with the spacing of COVID-19 vaccine and booster doses, for both routine and immune-compromised recipients, ages 6 months through adult.
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