New COVID-19 booster approved by FDA. Who can get it & where it’s available in Tri-Cities

Shaun Goodwin, Karlee Van De Venter
·3 min read
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new and updated COVID-19 vaccine booster on Monday, designed to fight new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus more effectively.

The new boosters, manufactured by Moderna and Pfizer, are designed to combat the latest Omicron variant of the virus. The United States has seen a rise in COVID-19 cases and deaths in recent weeks, with an 8.7% rise in hospitalizations and a 10.5% increase in deaths in the week ending with Sept. 2, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A Sept. 12 press release from the CDC states that both updated vaccines will be available “later this week.”

Here’s what to know about the new booster shots and where to get them in Tri-Cities.

Who can get the new booster?

The CDC expects the approved boosters to be effective against the currently circulating variants of COVID-19, but the FDA warns that vaccines may have to be updated annually, similar to the influenza vaccine. The CDC is currently recommending that everyone 6 months and older get an updated vaccine ahead of the colder seasons.

Here’s who can take the newly-approved boosters and how many are required:

  • Individuals 5 years and older, regardless of previous vaccination history, are eligible to receive a single dose of the updated vaccine at least two months after their last dose of any COVID-19 vaccine.

  • Children between 6 months and 4 years of age who have previously been vaccinated are eligible to receive one or two doses of the updated vaccine. The timing and number of doses depend on the previous COVID-19 vaccine received, which your doctor should know.

  • Unvaccinated children between 6 months and 4 years of age can receive three doses of the Pfizer vaccine or two doses of the Moderna vaccine. The first two doses are administered three weeks apart, and the third dose, if necessary, is administered at least eight weeks after the second dose.

Where can you get a booster in Tri-Cities?

Although the newest boosters are not yet available, most retail pharmacies and relevant health facilities offer COVID-19 boosters.

The federal website Vaccines.gov lets users input their ZIP code and which manufacturer’s brand of booster they want. The Tri-Cities has dozens of locations offering the vaccine. Some of the locations around the area that are offering vaccines include, but are not limited to:

Where can you get COVID-19 tests in Tri-Cities?

While the boosters will protect against the most severe symptoms of COVID-19, it’s still possible to pick up the virus and come down ill for a couple of days. If you suspect you have COVID-19, in-person and at-home testing options around the Tri-Cities exist.

The Washington State Department of Health has an online tool for testing sites near you, by county, region or city, in-person and at-home. Some locations offering in-person testing require appointments or only test if you have symptoms or are exposed to COVID, so call ahead before going to any location. Most health insurance plans cover the costs of testing, and free clinics may be available. Look for updates from the Benton-Franklin Health District.

The following locations around Tri-Cities are currently offering in-person COVID tests:

At-home tests are available from several local pharmacies, including:

  • Walmart

  • CVS

  • A single antigen test from Flowflex is available at Walmart for $7.97, while two-count packs of antigen tests from BinaxNOW are available for $23.99 at most pharmacies.