On Thursday, Sept. 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention endorsed the use of the first updated COVID-19 booster from Pfizer-BioNTech for ages 12 years and older, and Moderna for ages 18 years and older.
In a media statement, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky, backed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ recommendations for the use of the updated COVID-19 boosters.
“The updated COVID-19 boosters are formulated to better protect against the most recently circulating COVID-19 variant. They can help restore protection that has waned since previous vaccination and were designed to provide broader protection against newer variants,” Walensky said.
The updated boosters add Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 spike protein components to the current vaccine makeup designed to help restore protection by targeting more transmissible and immune-evading variants.
“This recommendation followed a comprehensive scientific evaluation and robust scientific discussion. If you are eligible, there is no bad time to get your COVID-19 booster and I strongly encourage you to receive it,” Dr. Walensky said.
Some locations around Arkansas have already begun receiving the updated boosters.
“The updated boosters are expected to be widely available across the state by the end of the week,” Katie White, deputy director of health communications with the Arkansas department of health said.
“In some cases, the doses are sent to the ADH hub locations and distributed from there while other locations are receiving shipments directly,” White added.
The updated Pfizer booster will be available soon for faculty, staff and students of the UCA campus community.
“The UCA Student Health Clinic will be administering the updated bivalent Pfizer booster in the near future. The clinic receives all COVID-19 vaccines from the Arkansas Department of Health,” UCA’s medical director and physician Dr. Randy Pastor said.
To be eligible for the updated booster, one must have completed the first of the two doses similar to the previous vaccine booster requirement.
“The CDC has approved the updated bivalent Pfizer booster for anyone over 12 years of age as long as they’ve completed the initial two-dose series and it’s been at least two months since their last COVID-19 vaccine. The Pfizer booster and the Moderna booster can be used interchangeably no matter which mRNA vaccine was previously given,” Dr. Pastor said.
“For people who’ve already received a booster, they may receive the updated bivalent Pfizer booster as long as it’s been at least two months since their last booster. It should also be noted that the updated bivalent boosters cannot be used for the initial two-dose primary series. The older vaccine must be used to complete the initial series before the updated bivalent boosters can be administered,” Dr. Pastor added, “As in the past, UCA will continue adhering closely to the CDC and Arkansas Department of Health guidelines.”
According to CDC data, people who have had one or two boosters have a 0.024 percent chance of being hospitalized with COVID-19. For people under 50, it’s even lower — 0.014 percent.
More information can be found at www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/covid-19-vaccination-plan.