Children and teens 5 and older can now receive the updated COVID-19 booster, specifically made to protect against the latest COVID-19 variants.
The new booster is becoming available in North Carolina following the Food and Drug Administration’s emergency use authorization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation.
Officials with the state health department said the updated booster is referred to as a bivalent vaccine, as it targets both the original coronavirus strain and the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants. As of mid-September, these variants made up about 80% of COVID-19 cases in North Carolina.
Children and teens may be able to get the updated COVID-19 booster and other routine vaccines they are due for at the same visit, including during routine checkups. State health officials said the booster, like all COVID-19 vaccines, is safe to get alongside the annual flu shot.
