New bivalent COVID-19 booster shots available at health department
RICHMOND, Ind. — The Wayne County Health Department now offers bivalent COVID-19 boosters with protection against the two newest Omicron virus strains.
The Moderna bivalent booster is available for ages 18 and older, and the Pfizer bivalent booster is available for ages 12 and older, according to a news release. The original vaccines are still used for primary vaccine doses, but the bivalent booster is available for anyone two months after receiving the final primary dose or their most recent booster dose.
“The bivalent booster offers protection against the original strain of COVID-19 and also includes the twomost recent strains that are circulating,” said Dr. David Jetmore, the Wayne County health officer.
Booster shot appointments may be made at ourshot.in.gov. The health department at 100 S. Fifth St. also accepts walk-ins from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Evening hours occur every Monday until 7 p.m., and vaccines are available 8 a.m. to noon the first Saturday of each month.
The health department is also offering annual flu vaccinations.
“We encourage the public to get their flu shot now," said Christopher Simons, the health department's director of clinical services. "We can do co-administration of the flu and the COVID-19 vaccines. That means you canget them both at the same visit.”
Flu shot appointments may be made by calling 765-973-9245, but walk-ins are also welcome. A business wishing to set up a flu shot clinic for its employees should email mrunkle@co.wayne.in.us.
Christine Stinson, executive director of the health department, recommends residents receive both the flu shot and COVID vaccinations.
“Getting vaccinated for both COVID-19 and the flu will reduce the likelihood you will experiencesevere symptoms of either the flu or COVID and reduce the likelihood you will require hospitalization,”she said.
Preventing severe cases of COVID-19 or the flu benefits the community by easing the strain on hospital and healthcare systems.
Reid Health's Monday update listed eight patients in COVID-19 containment areas, but none was in the intensive care unit. None of the eight patients was up to date on vaccinations.
According to Indiana State Department of Health statistics updated Wednesday, Wayne County closed August with 955 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases and five COVID-related deaths. The monthly case number is one higher than July's total.
Through six days with preliminary numbers, Wayne County has reported 45 COVID-19 cases during September.
The laboratory-confirmed case total is accepted as being lower that the county's overall case total because of home tests. Residents testing positive for COVID-19 in home tests are not required to report the positive results to county or state health officials.
Overall, Wayne County has reported 21,624 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases and 341 deaths from COVID-19 complications since March 2020.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list Wayne, Franklin, Fayette and Darke counties as having medium community levels of COVID-19. Randolph, Henry and Preble counties have high community levels of COVID-19, and Union County is listed at the low level.
The overall case and death totals for surrounding counties are:
Darke County: 13,808 positives and 242 deaths;
Fayette County: 7,629 positives and 145 deaths;
Henry County: 14,750 positives and 235 deaths;
Franklin County: 4,888 positives and 58 deaths;
Preble County: 10,612 positives and 204 deaths;
Randolph County: 6,533 positives and 151 deaths;
Union County: 2,172 positives and 21 deaths.
Indiana has recorded 1,905,229 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases and 23,470 COVID-related deaths through Sunday. The Ohio Department of Health's weekly update Thursday reported 3,074,826 cases and 39,490 deaths.
This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: New bivalent COVID-19 booster shots available at health department
