NW Washington News

Following guidance and recommendations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Skagit County Public Health will now be offering the omicron variant-targeted bivalent booster of COVID-19 vaccines to children ages 6 months and older. These updated COVID-19 vaccines are specifically formulated to protect against some of the more recent COVID-19 variants and are critical for providing ongoing protection as immunity wanes and the virus continues to mutate.Here’s what parents and caregivers need to know.

• Children 6 months through 5 years of age who received the original (monovalent) two-dose Moderna COVID-19 vaccine series are now eligible to receive a booster of the updated (bivalent) Moderna COVID-19 vaccine two months after their last dose.
• Children 6 months through 4 years of age who have not started or completed their three-dose Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine series will now receive the updated (bivalent) Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine as the third dose following two doses of the original (monovalent) Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
• Children 6 months through 4 years of age who have already completed their three-dose primary series with the original (monovalent) Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are not eligible for an updated (bivalent) booster dose at this time.
• Not sure which dose your child has received or what they are eligible for? Call Skagit County Public Health at (360) 416-1500 and our bilingual staff will be happy to assist.

All parents and caregivers of children ages 6 months and older should get their child(ren) vaccinated with the updated booster dose if eligible or start the COVID-19 vaccine series if they are yet to begin. Washington State is currently seeing record pediatric hospitalizations from respiratory viruses. Vaccines add an extra level of protection from severe illness including hospitalization and death. Flu vaccines are also available to everyone 6 months and older and flu and COVID-19 vaccines can be safely given at the same time.“Vaccines remain our best defense against the most serious consequences of communicable disease. As we face an unprecedented surge of viral respiratory illness and head into the holidays and winter months where more time will be spent indoors, we urge parents and caregivers of children of any age to seek vaccination now if you haven’t already. Doing so will provide benefit to individuals, families, and our entire community”, says Dr. Howard Leibrand, Skagit County Health Officer.To schedule a no-cost, no insurance required COVID-19 and/or influenza vaccine for your child, call Skagit County Public Health at (360) 416-1500. For more information about COVID-19 vaccination for children, visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/planning/children/6-things-to-know.html.

Original source can be found here.