EASTON — Public Health Officer and Fire Capt. Tim Vamosi, Director of Health and Community Services Kristin Kennedy and Fire Chief Justin Alexander wish to share the following information about COVID-19 booster vaccinations and new options that are now available to the public.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized — and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended — updated Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 boosters. These updated booster shots, which became available in Massachusetts last week, add Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 spike protein components to the current vaccine composition, targeting variants that are more transmissible and immune-evading.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health recommends that anyone age 12 or older who completed a primary COVID-19 vaccination series or received a booster dose at least two months ago gets the updated booster as soon as possible.
Individuals 18 years of age and older are eligible for a single booster dose of the bivalent Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine if it has been at least two months since they have completed primary vaccination (two doses) or have received the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.
Individuals aged 12-17 are eligible for a single booster dose of the bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine if it has been at least two months since they have completed primary vaccination (two doses) or have received the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.
Children aged 5-11 are eligible for a single booster dose of the bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine if it has been at least five months since they have completed primary vaccination (two doses).
The FDA has also approved the Novavax vaccine for those aged 12 and up. Novavax is an alternative to mRNA vaccines. It also contains spike protein components but does not enter cell nuclei or interact with DNA. This approach is also used in Pertussis and Hepatitis B vaccines. Read more about Novavax here.
Residents can also check their eligibility for COVID-19 boosters through this online CDC tool.
Staying up to date on vaccines, including boosters, is the most effective way to prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. While vaccine protection decreases over time, boosters restimulate the immune system and increase vaccine efficacy again. Boosters are an important defense, even if one has already had COVID.
Boosters are available at many locations across the Commonwealth, including doctor’s offices, hospitals, pharmacies, and community health clinics. Visit the VaxFinder tool at vaxfinder.mass.gov for a list of locations to receive a booster. Residents will be able to narrow results to search for locations that are offering the booster of their choice.
If you are unable to use VaxFinder or have difficulty accessing the internet, please contact the COVID-19 Vaccine Resource Line (Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.) by calling 2-1-1 and following the prompts. The COVID-19 Vaccine Resource Line is available in English and Spanish and has translators available in approximately 100 additional languages.
More information is available at mass.gov/covidbooster or cdc.gov.
About the Easton Community Health and Paramedicine program:
The Easton Community Health and Paramedicine program is a partnership between Easton’s Fire Department and Department of Health and Community Services. The program blends health care, public safety and public health. By investing in proactive and preventative care, the program seeks to provide support to residents that limits the need for emergency care whenever possible. Several events and initiatives are currently offered as part of the program. Learn more here or here.
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