Omicron-specific COVID booster shots are now available in Larimer County

Bethany Osborn, Fort Collins Coloradoan
·2 min read
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Omicron-specific booster shots are now available in Larimer County, health department officials announced in a press release Thursday.

The bivalent boosters were developed specifically to target the highly contagious omicron variants of the coronavirus that have developed over the last several months. The new boosters should also address waning effectiveness of previous vaccines, Larimer County Department of Health and Environment officials said.

Both Pfizer and Moderna have developed new booster shots. Pfizer’s booster is recommended for anyone 12 and older, while Moderna's shot is recommended for individuals 18 and older. Eligible residents can get either one of the booster shots, regardless of which vaccines they’ve received in the past. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said the boosters can be given at least two months after a person’s last COVID-19 shot, whether that was a booster shot or a primary vaccination series.

“The new boosters will provide those already vaccinated with another layer of protection as we head into the fall and winter months when respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, become more prevalent,” Paul Mayer, medical officer for the county health department, said in the county's news release.

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Roughly 70% of Larimer County residents are fully vaccinated, meaning they've completed a full series of initial vaccines, like two shots of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or a single dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccines, county officials said.

County health officials said they encourage anyone who has questions about the new vaccines to consult their health care provider.

The county healthy department is offering the new booster shots at 1525 Blue Spruce Drive in Fort Collins, and eligible residents can register online for an appointment at www.larimer.gov/health/communicable-disease/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-19-vaccine.

You can also check with other providers, including local pharmacies, to see if they have the updated booster shots available.

The state is also setting up a drive-thru community vaccination site at Front Range Community College at 4616 S. Shields Street in Fort Collins. The site will be open Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Registration is available at www.comassvax.org.

The county's announcement comes as Coloradans brace for flu season on top of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The CDC is recommending everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine this season.

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This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Omicron-specific COVID booster shots now available in Larimer County