Updated COVID-19 bivalent boosters available in Coachella Valley
Coachella Valley residents can start scheduling appointments to receive either a Pfizer or Moderna omicron booster shot.
The Food and Drug Administration gave emergency use authorization last week to the new bivalent vaccine that targets both the original virus and the BA.4 and BA.5 variants that now dominate the world. Riverside County has received 500 orders each of the Pfizer and Moderna bivalent boosters, according to county spokesperson Jose Arballo Jr.
The Pfizer-BioNTech booster was authorized for anyone ages 12 and up, and Moderna's vaccine was authorized for adults ages 18 and older. People can get the single booster dose at least two months following primary or booster vaccination.
All boosters for individuals ages 12 and older will be bivalent moving forward, Arballo said.
Read more: Has the COVID vaccine finally reached annual flu shot status? Health officials are hopeful.
"The healthcare system began receiving them based on preorders, and appointments have been available as of this week," Arballo said. "Additional providers will come online throughout the week as their supply arrives."
Various CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens pharmacy locations in the Coachella Valley have appointment slots available for booster shots.
Riverside County Public Health also encourages residents to visit https://myturn.ca.gov/ to find the nearest vaccine clinic that offers the updated booster. Currently, a message on MyTurn's website states: "We are in the process of updating our COVID-19 booster vaccines for the fall. Booster appointments for people 12+ will not be available during this update. Please check back in soon to make an appointment."
Omicron continues to be the dominant variant in the United States, with the BA.5 sublineage accounting for more than 88% of cases and BA.4 accounting for more than 11%, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky.
Read more: COVID-19: Week-over-week cases have decreased for the past month in Riverside County
In Riverside County, 59.7% of residents ages 6 months and older have completed their primary vaccine series, which includes both shots of the Pfizer or both shots of the Moderna vaccines or one shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. About 30% of the eligible population has been boosted.
USA Today contributed to this report.
Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Updated COVID-19 bivalent booster shots now available in Coachella Valley
