Do you need to get another COVID booster shot? What to know about the vaccine in NC.

Teddy Rosenbluth
·2 min read
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Earlier this month, the federal government officially ended the coronavirus public health emergency.

But the virus has not stopped spreading in North Carolina and the rest of the country. In April, more than 2,000 North Carolinians were hospitalized due to COVID complications.

Here’s what you need to know about COVID-19 booster shots and whether you qualify for more shots.

When do I need a ‘bivalent booster’?

In September 2022, the CDC recommended a new type of vaccine, a “bivalent booster,” that targets both the original COVID strain and the newer omicron strains. In the Southeast, the omicron XBB variants are overwhelmingly dominant.

Most people who have received one of these bivalent boosters are considered “up to date.” About a quarter of North Carolinians fall into this category, according to the most recent state data.

In certain situations, a second bivalent booster is advised, according to recent CDC guidance.

You may qualify if:

  • You have a compromised immune system and your last shot was at least two months ago.

  • You are 65 years or older and your last shot was at least four months ago.

Where can I get a COVID-19 booster vaccine?

These additional shots can be administered at a primary care doctor’s office or at one of the sites listed on MySpot.nc.gov.

Vaccines are still free, regardless of insurance status. However, sometime soon, COVID-19 vaccines may no longer be free for everyone as they become more like other routine shots, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services warned in a news release.

Wake County will close its free vaccine clinics on July 1, after which time insured residents may face co-pays or deductibles. The vaccines will remain free for those who are uninsured.

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Teddy Rosenbluth covers science and health care for The News & Observer in a position funded by Duke Health and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. The N&O maintains full editorial control of the work.