With updated vaccines on the way, Meck County, StarMed pause COVID-19 booster shots for some

MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — The Mecklenburg County Public Health department and StarMed Healthcare have paused giving COVID-19 booster shots to people 12 and older until updated vaccines arrive.

The new formula of the vaccine is expected to arrive sometime next week, officials said.

The booster is expected to provide greater protection against COVID-19 and the omicron variant for people who received their first vaccine dose, health officials says. It was developed with mRNA molecules from the original coronavirus spike that tell our cells to make antibodies against the newest strains.

The health department said it has notified patients who may be impacted by the pause.

Don Nestor told Channel 9 that is worth getting another shot for, especially as he tries to protect his wife who has an autoimmune disorder.

“I try to stay up with what’s available currently,” he said.

You are eligible for the updated boosters as long as you’ve completed all your primary doses in the vaccine series.

Nestor believes staying on top of the virus is part of regular life.

“We try to stay healthy and keep on trucking,” he said.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the newest formula of the COVID-19 boosters produced by Moderna and Pfizer earlier this week. It is a single dose given at least two months after your last shot, the FDA said.

Pfizer’s revised booster is meant for people 12 and older while Moderna’s updated vaccine is authorized for those older than 18.

On Thursday, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky also endorsed the reformulated COVID-19 booster shots.

“They can help restore protection that has waned since previous vaccination and were designed to provide broader protection,” Walensky said in a statement.

The CDC said it also expects to recommend updated boosters for kids in the coming months.

The expectation is that these new booster shots will begin to be administered in the coming days. StarMed says they’ll continue to give free booster shots once the new shipment arrives and you won’t need an appointment when the time comes.

More information on COVID-19 vaccine distribution in Mecklenburg County is available on the county’s website.

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