News Flash

Announcements

Posted on: September 1, 2022

COVID-19 Boosters Update: Bivalent boosters

*Please note that information may change quickly. This was updated September 6, 2022

The arrival of the bivalent COVID-19 booster is exciting news. This vaccine will provide better protection against the currently circulating COVID virus Omicron variants and hopefully provide good protection against any variants circulating this fall during flu season, which is likely to bring increased case rates later this year.

The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent, is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 18 years of age and older if it has been at least two months since they have completed primary vaccination or since they have received their last booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent, is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 12 years of age and older if it has been at least two months since they have completed primary vaccination or since they have received their last booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.

The boosters have been authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices as well as the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup and the Washington State Department of Health. The bivalent vaccines combine the companies’ original COVID-19 vaccine compositions with BA.4 and BA.5 spike protein components, providing additional protection by targeting variants that are more transmissible and immune-evading. The primary COVID-19 vaccine series will stay the same, given their proven efficacy in preventing serious illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19.  

With the authorization of the new bivalent vaccines, the FDA has eliminated authorization for the monovalent boosters for those 12 and up. So if you are older than 12, you will need to get one of the bivalent booster doses. Children ages 5-11 who have completed their initial vaccine series should continue to get the monovalent booster, as a bivalent booster is not yet authorized for that age group. Children ages 6 months to 4 years do not yet have an authorized booster.

There may be some waiting for people to get the boosters depending on vaccine availability as well as their local providers’ staffing and capacity. We urge patience as providers work hard to make sure everyone who is due for a booster can get it, but this will take some time. Please contact your provider to confirm vaccine availability. 

Facebook Twitter Email

Other News in Announcements

Notice of possible quorum

Posted on: November 30, 2023

New Respiratory Virus Dashboard Launches

Posted on: October 19, 2023

Updates on mask requirements

Posted on: March 7, 2023

Board of Health Meeting - December 13

Posted on: December 9, 2022

Board of Health Meeting - November 8

Posted on: November 4, 2022

Board of Health Meeting - October 11

Posted on: October 7, 2022

Board of Health Meeting - September 13

Posted on: September 12, 2022

Board of Health Meeting - July 12

Posted on: July 8, 2022

Board of Health Meeting - June 14

Posted on: June 10, 2022

Board of Health Meeting - May 10

Posted on: May 9, 2022

Board of Health Meeting - March 8

Posted on: March 4, 2022

Statewide Mask Orders to End March 21

Posted on: February 17, 2022

Board of Health Meeting - January 18

Posted on: January 15, 2022

Board of Health Meeting - December 14

Posted on: December 10, 2021

Board of Health Meeting - July 13

Posted on: July 12, 2021

Staying Healthy and Cool in the Heat

Posted on: June 25, 2021

Life After the Vaccines

Posted on: June 11, 2021

Board of Health Meeting - June 8

Posted on: June 7, 2021

Board of Health Meeting - May 11

Posted on: May 10, 2021

Board of Health Meeting - March 9

Posted on: March 8, 2021

Board of Health Meeting - February 9

Posted on: February 8, 2021

Play it Smart this Super Bowl Sunday

Posted on: February 5, 2021

COVID-19 Updates in Snohomish County

Posted on: December 22, 2020

COVID Vaccines Arrive in Snohomish County

Posted on: December 18, 2020

COVID-19 Updates in Snohomish County

Posted on: December 11, 2020

Give Thanks, Not COVID

Posted on: November 13, 2020

Board of Health Meeting - October 13

Posted on: October 12, 2020

Tips for Celebrating Halloween Safely

Posted on: September 30, 2020

Board of Health Meeting - September 8

Posted on: September 7, 2020

COVID-19 Drive-Thru Testing Update

Posted on: August 3, 2020

Board of Health Meeting - July 14

Posted on: July 13, 2020

Board of Health Meeting - June 9

Posted on: June 8, 2020

Board of Health Meeting, March 10

Posted on: March 9, 2020

Board of Health Meeting, December 10

Posted on: December 6, 2019

Flu season arrives in Snohomish County

Posted on: December 2, 2019

Prepare for Flu Season

Posted on: October 14, 2019

Board of Health Meeting, September 10

Posted on: September 9, 2019

Board of Health Meeting, July 9

Posted on: July 5, 2019

Board of Health Meeting, June 11

Posted on: June 10, 2019

Board of Health Meeting, May 14

Posted on: May 10, 2019

Board of Health Meeting, April 9

Posted on: April 5, 2019

Board of Health Meeting - July 13

Posted on: July 12, 2021