The Food and Drug Administration recently approved new COVID-19 booster vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. Each is designed to combat a couple of variants that have proliferated across much of the U. S. In the US and the world in recent months: the BA. 4 and the BA. 5 subvariants of the Omicron variant.
Here’s what you want to know about the new reinforcements:
While vaccines evolved through Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson
In addition: Winnebago County’s COVID rate increased to 29. 1%; Illinois up 9. 6%
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, as of Sept. 3, 87. 8 of all cases in the state were type BA. 5, so it is urgent that coverage against the worst outcomes of the virus arrives as soon as possible.
Just as the original vaccines evolved in reaction to the original COVID-19 disease, the Pfizer and Moderna boosters work through the generation of mRNA to provide an immune response against the original virus and its variants.
The new boosters are equated with seasonal flu vaccines in that they were developed to provide coverage and attack a safe variant of the virus.
“We’ve had a lot of variants since our first COVID vaccines, yet this one (Omicron) has been the longest in recent times and affects most people,” said Gail O’Neill, director of the Sangamon County Department of Public Health. It’s kind of like what they’re doing with the seasonal flu vaccine: they’re figuring out what’s happening in the world, going in our direction. In this case, it is BA. 4 and BA. 5 that are intended to be removed to help protect us. “
COVID-19 vaccines are readily available at local pharmacies. Visit vacunas. gov to locate a vaccine provider near you. The new COVID-19 bivalent vaccine booster is now available as a searchable variety on the vacunas. gov website.
The Boone County Health Department administers reinforcements from Moderna and Pfizer from nine a. m. m. until noon on Thursdays in September. A calendar of recovery clinics for October will be announced soon. Here is the link to register: COVID-1 Vaccination Clinic September 2022 (juvare. com)
The Stephenson County Health Department delivers vaccines by appointment. Residents are asked to call 815-235-8271.
The Winnebago County Health Department is asking citizens to visit their attending physician, pharmacy or check the availability of vaccines on its website wchd. org.
Reinforcements are also found at Walgreens and CVS, among others. Contact your local store or pass online to make an appointment.
The Pfizer booster is available for those over 12, while the new Moderna booster is available for those over 18.
People will need to have their first COVID-19 vaccine circular before receiving the booster. It is recommended that other people go at least two months without vaccines before receiving the new booster.
“You have to wait at least two months after the last one because your framework wants to improve their immunity with one,” O’Neill said. “It’s chemically composed to paint together. “
Get vaccinated as soon as possible. As autumn approaches, there is the option of a new wave of COVID in the last two years of the pandemic. O’Neill urged caution as the weather cools and more and more people begin to gather inside.
“We think we’re fully prepared,” O’Neill said. Unfortunately, we have enough experience to deal with vaccinating a lot of other people and the diseases that would possibly come from (COVID). We believe that other people are knowledgeable, much more so than in the past, and we still believe that there may also be a peak (during) the holidays around November. It’s a bit worrying, so we want other people to be careful.
Chris Green, a journalist for the Rockford Register Star, contributed to this report.