The new COVID booster shots are in Rhode Island. What to know and how to get one
A new type of COVID-19 booster shot received approval last week from the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Doses began arriving in Rhode Island this week.
Here’s what residents need to know.
Who makes these boosters?
Moderna and Pfizer.
What are they and why were they developed?
They are a new “bivalent vaccine, meaning that they target two strains of COVID-19,” according to the Rhode Island Department of Health. “The bivalent COVID-19 boosters from Pfizer and Moderna target the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 and the omicron variant, which is the strain causing most current cases.” The BA.5 omicron subvariant is far and away the dominant strain in the United States.
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Who is eligible?
People age 12 and older who have already received a primary series of COVID-19 vaccine. “The Pfizer bivalent booster is recommended for people age 12 or older and the Moderna bivalent booster is recommended for people age 18 or older,” the state health department says.
Where can I get the shots?
“People should contact their primary-care providers to learn about bivalent vaccine availability,” the health department says.
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Available at Walgreens and CVS?
Yes. The shots will be available at some outlets, including CVS and Walgreens, which are already scheduling appointments.
How many doses have arrived in the state?
“Rhode Island’s initial shipment of bivalent booster doses totaled 29,000 doses: 21,000 Pfizer and 8,000 Moderna,” according to the health department.
Do I need to get the new booster from the same manufacturer of my primary series?
No. So-called “mix-and-match" is allowed. “People ages 12 and older can ‘mix and match’ vaccine types for booster and primary series,” according to the health department.
Will the 'original' (monovalent) booster shots still be available?
No. The FDA and CDC “have repealed their authorization and recommendation for the current Pfizer and Moderna monovalent boosters,” the health department says. “This means that anyone age 12 or older who would like a COVID-19 booster will get a bivalent booster.”
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Completion of a primary series is required to be eligible for the new booster. Can I rush out to get it?
In a word, no. “If you got your primary series, wait two months and get 1 bivalent booster dose,” according to the health department. “If you got your primary series and one booster, wait two months and get 1 bivalent booster dose. If you got your primary series and two booster doses, wait two months and get 1 bivalent booster dose. In other words, everyone who has received their primary series is eligible for 1 bivalent booster.”
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Does the introduction of the new booster change anything for people younger than 12?
No. According to the health department, there are “no changes to vaccination schedules for people age 6 months through 11 years.”
Can I get the new booster shot and my annual flu shot at the same time?
Yes. The CDC has said they may be co-administered.
For more information about COVID-19 and vaccines, visit https://covid.ri.gov/
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Bivalent COVID booster shots arriving in RI: How to get one
