Omicron specific boosters now available at Minnesota-run clinics
Booster shots designed to fight the omicron strain of the coronavirus are available at two state-run clinics.
Appointments are already available at the Mall of America clinic, and the site at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center is scheduling to administer doses starting Sunday. Pharmacies and local health departments should also soon have appointments available.
Both Pfizer and Moderna have received approval for updated vaccines. The Pfizer dose is recommended for everyone 12 and older while the Moderna shot is approved for those 18 and up.
Both state-run clinics are offering the Pfizer booster. The shots are free and can be administered two months after a dose of the original vaccines.
Omicron drove COVID-19 cases to all-time highs in January and is now the cause of nearly all infections in Minnesota and nationwide. Several omicron sub-variants, including BA.4 and BA.5, are more contagious than previous variants of the coronavirus.
Minnesota COVID-19 infection rates have been at a plateau for months. On average, roughly 1,000 new infections are recorded each day, but that is only a fraction of the people getting sick because most test at home and do not report the results to the state.
Omicron has easily evaded the protections against infection that previous vaccines and prior infection have provided. Vaccines are still effective at preventing serious illness, hospitalization and death.
“Staying up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines is a crucial part of protecting our state in the months ahead,” said Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm. “The bivalent boosters were shown to be safe and effective, and they will be a key tool in helping provide better protection against variants that are currently spreading.”
For more information about the state’s COVID-19 response, including details about testing and vaccines, visit: mn.gov/covid19 or call 1-833-431-2053.
