This week's updates on the coronavirus pandemic
Sep. 2—Updated booster shots coming soon
The federal Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday authorized updated versions of the COVID-19 booster shots targeting the newest omicron subvariant BA.5, which should start rolling out to pharmacies sometime after Labor Day weekend.
The new booster shots from Moderna and Pfizer are designed to improve the vaccine's response to the omicron variant, a highly contagious version of coronavirus known for its ability to escape immunity from vaccination and prior infections, by incorporating messenger RNA components from the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 and omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5.
This is the first updated vaccine formula authorized by the FDA and CDC since the vaccination effort started in 2020.
Only 23% of Allen County residents have received at least one booster shot, while only 44% of residents here have finished their initial vaccine series, according to the Ohio Department of Health.
Who's eligible for a booster shot
Eligibility varies by a person's age and initial vaccine series.
Adults who initially received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are eligible for up to two booster shots, the first of which is recommended at least two months after the primary vaccine. A second booster is also available at least four months after a person receives their first booster dose.
For adults who were vaccinated with Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, a booster shot is recommended at least five months after finishing their primary vaccine series. Adults age 50 and older should receive a second booster four months later.
Children age 5 and older who received Pfizer as their primary vaccine series are also eligible for a booster after five months, but children who were vaccinated with Moderna are not yet eligible to do so.
—The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lowered the risk of COVID-19 exposure for all five counties in the region. Allen and Hardin counties were reduced from high risk to medium risk, Auglaize County was lowered from high risk to low risk and Putnam and Van Wert counties were lowered from medium risk to low risk.
There were an estimated 9.9 new hospital admissions per 100,000 people in Allen County in the last seven days, a slight decline from the previous week. Patients with COVID-19 illness rose slightly in that same time frame, occupying 3.2% of staffed hospital beds instead of last week's 2.8% total.
—One death in Allen County attributed to COVID-19 was reported to the Ohio Department of Health in the last seven days.
Allen County
Cases ' 30,395 ' +202
Deaths ' 482 ' +1
Recovered ' 29,195 ' +215
Auglaize County
Cases ' 12,825 ' +66
Deaths ' 190 ' 0
Recovered ' 12,337 ' +112
Hardin County
Cases ' 7,904 ' +86
Deaths ' 162 ' 0
Recovered ' 7,530 ' +67
Putnam County
Cases ' 9,033 ' +46
Deaths ' 159 ' 0
Recovered ' 8,730 ' +45
Van Wert County
Cases ' 7,400 ' +37
Deaths ' 150 ' 0
Recovered ' 7,142 ' +54
Ohio
Cases ' 3,074,826 ' +25,280
Deaths ' 39,490 ' +84
Recovered ' 2,962,568 ' +25,104
Recovered defined as symptom onset more than 21 days prior, not deceased. Only verified deaths included now.
Source: coronavirus.ohio.gov
Updated 2 p.m. 9/1/22
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Get the shot
Ohio's online vaccination scheduling portal shows who's eligible and which pharmacies, health departments and mass vaccination clinics are closest to your home or workplace. Visit gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov to schedule your appointment.
Who's eligible?
—All adults and children age six months and older.
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