Minnesota health care providers have begun administering updated COVID-19 booster shots that have been formulated to be more effective against the Omicron variants.
The bivalent boosters—one from Pfizer and one from Moderna—were authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday, August 31 and recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on September 1.
Per the CDC, people age 12 and older are now recommended to get an updated bivalent booster dose at least 2 months after their last COVID-19 shot. That means the bivalent booster may be given after a person’s primary series or after their last booster shot.
- The updated Pfizer booster is authorized for people age 12 and older.
- The updated Moderna booster is authorized for people age 18 and older.
The updated COVID-19 boosters can both help restore protection that has decreased since previous vaccination and provide broader protection against newer variants. The COVID-19 vaccines and the updated booster help protect people from getting very sick with COVID-19.
Check with your regular health care provider or local pharmacy to see if appointments for the bivalent booster are available. You can also use the state’s Find Vaccine Locations map to find vaccine providers near you. Providers will update their information as appointments are available.
