NEW YORK – In August 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorizations (EUAs) of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to authorize bivalent formulations of the vaccines for use as a single booster, commonly referred to as the “updated boosters.” These bivalent vaccine booster doses must be given at least two months after the primary series or most recent booster vaccination. The bivalent vaccines contain: two messenger RNA (mRNA) components of SARS-CoV-2 virus, the original strain of SARS-CoV-2, and the other one in common between the BA.4 and BA.5 lineages of the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2. 

To simplify, there are two new booster vaccine options that include protection of more strains of COVID-19:

Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine – Bivalent vaccine is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 18 years of age and older.

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine – Bivalent vaccine is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 12 years of age and older. 

**If you received Moderna as a primary series or booster you can receive Pfizer as your bivalent booster and vice versa.

The monovalent COVID-19 vaccines that are authorized by the FDA have been administered to millions of people in the United States since December 2020 and contain a component from the original strain of SARS-CoV-2, is now only authorized for use as a primary vaccination series.

The Chenango County Health Department will be hosting a clinic on Sept. 26 for Moderna and Pfizer BIVALENT Boosters at the Broad Street United Methodist Church 74 North Broad Street, Norwich.Time: 1-3 p.m.

You must register for an appointment on the website vaccine tab to attend. ( www.co.chenango.ny.us/public-health/nursing/covid19.php#tab-3 )

You may call us directly if you need help with the registration process and do not have a computer.

You may also email at covid19@co.chenango.ny.us

What you need to know:

The authorized bivalent COVID-19 vaccines, or updated boosters, include an mRNA component of the original strain to provide an immune response that is broadly protective against COVID-19 and an mRNA component in common between the omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5 lineages to provide better protection against COVID-19 caused by the omicron variant. 

The BA.4 and BA.5 lineages of the omicron variant are currently causing most cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and are predicted to circulate this fall and winter.

For each bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, the FDA based its decision on the totality of available evidence, extensive safety and effectiveness data, immunogenicity data obtained from clinical studies, and nonclinical data.

Based on the data supporting each of these authorizations, the bivalent COVID-19 vaccines are expected to provide increased protection against the currently circulating omicron variant.

The monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are not authorized as booster doses for individuals under 12 years old.

Who is eligible to receive a single booster dose and when: If you have completed a primary vaccine series at least 2 months ago or your most recent booster shot was at least 2 months ago, you may be eligible for the new booster dose.

Persons with questions or requiring additional information may contact the Chenango County Health Department at (607) 337-1660.

– The Chenango County Health Department