SEATTLE – National and local health jurisdictions are preparing to implement updated COVID-19 booster injections this week, designed to better protect citizens from the common maximum omicron variants of the virus.
The Food and Drug Administration last week granted emergency authorization for new boosters from Pfizer and Moderna, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved broader eligibility for the updated injections.
The new boosters are “bivalent,” many parts of the vaccine to fight the virus of origin and make slight modifications to the spike protein to target the contagious subvariants BA. 4 and BA. 5 omicron.
Here’s who can get updated COVID-19 boosters, starting this week:
Public health officials hope that offering more effective reminders and making them widely available will help reduce the risk of another major wave of COVID-19 in the fall and winter months, while other seasonal respiratory viruses are also circulating.
“Having up-to-date, legal booster shots now gives us the opportunity to save you many infections, hospitalizations and deaths,” said Dr. Jeff Duchin, King County health officer. “Both now, as COVID-19 continues to spread locally, and to provide a higher point of coverage this fall and winter, when transmission is likely to increase. “
At a press conference on Tuesday, Duchin said the recent peak increase in COVID-19 activity driven by OMICRON had peaked beyond the May deadline and had maintained a steady decline since mid-July. Over the past month, measures have declined in all age groups, bringing Washington’s most populous county back into the CDC’s “low network level” range.
COVID-related hospitalizations have decreased by about 50% and deaths have also decreased. However, Duchin noted that cases shown through PCR testing likely make up only a fraction of actual infections, as more people rely on home testing.
“While our trend is down, there are probably still a few thousand new cases of COVID-19 in King County every day,” he said. “However, this probably represents a significant reduction from recent peaks. “
As colder months are a quick technique and more time is spent indoors, public fitness officials hope that recalls, along with other long-recommended precautions, will reduce the chances of the virus spreading in the coming months.
While the vast majority of King County citizens have finished their initial vaccinations, only a portion have won a booster shot.
“The COVID-19 pandemic may simply evolve, with fewer significant outbreaks and a decrease, but a really extensive number of hospitalizations and deaths,” Duchin said. “We want to be prepared for the option of expanding COVID-19 activity as we enter the fall and winter and perceive the long-term importance of sustained multi-layered methods to save you from COVID-19, a disease that won’t go away. “
Appointments for the new boosters may be as early as Friday for some, and Washington expects only about 200,000 doses to arrive in the state this week, and many more will follow.
Seattle and King County expect 92,000 doses to arrive this week and next, which will be delivered to local county-run pharmacies and other physical care providers in the area. The King County vaccination at Auburn’s Outlet Collection plans to offer the new boosters Friday and will settle for walk-in visits.
On the east side, Duchins said the Eastgate Clinic will make appointments starting Sept. 12. Residents can also check with their physical care providers and nearest pharmacies for appointments starting this weekend. Since benefits will be limited in the first few weeks, fitness officials will be waiting to call to exceed availability in the first few weeks.
Residents can search for appointments in the state’s vaccine tracing tool, stop by the King County Vaccination Center, or call 1-800-525-0127.
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