The Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) permitted the up to date bivalent COVID-19 vaccine as a single dose booster on Aug. 31.
The brand new booster supplies safety towards the BA.4 and the BA.5 pressure of the omicron variant, in accordance with the FDA. The CDC reported that these strains at the moment trigger the vast majority of optimistic COVID-19 circumstances in america.
As of Oct. 12, the CDC recommends that individuals ages 5 years and older obtain one up to date (bivalent) booster if it has been at the very least two months since their final COVID-19 vaccine dose, whether or not that was their closing main sequence dose, or an authentic (monovalent) booster. Individuals who have gotten greater than one of many monovalent boosters are additionally beneficial to get an up to date bivalent booster.
In line with the Georgia Division of Well being, 52% of Clarke County is absolutely vaccinated, which means a full two-vaccine sequence, and 28% have acquired a further dose. The Georgia Division of Well being doesn’t observe the proportion of people that have acquired the up to date bivalent booster.
Missy Jackson, the Director of Nursing on the College Well being Middle, mentioned the UHC has been administering COVID-19 vaccines for the reason that first monovalent vaccines have been first launched. They now administer each the unique monovalent vaccines and the up to date bivalent boosters. The College Well being Middle follows CDC pointers for the bivalent booster.
“Since receiving the primary COVID-19 vaccines in December of 2020, the UHC has administered over 36,000 vaccines to over 19,000 distinct people. Of these whole vaccines, UHC has administered roughly 1,000 bivalent vaccines,” Jackson mentioned.
If college students want to obtain the bivalent vaccine on the UHC, they will schedule an appointment within the UHC affected person portal or name the Allergy and Journey clinic at 706-542-5575.
Jackson additionally mentioned the Georgia Division of Public Well being and native pharmacies within the Athens space can be found to supply the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine. She mentioned it is very important contact the supplier to confirm if they’ve the right vaccine when making an appointment.
Emily Harkness, a second-year anthropology main on the College of Georgia, mentioned she bought the up to date booster similtaneously a flu vaccine. She mentioned she has inspired family and friends to get the vaccine to extend collective immunity.
“My grandma may be very vulnerable to COVID, so we’re all very cautious about it. I inspired most of my household to get the vaccine, and I inspired my pals as nicely, as a result of it is herd immunity,” Harkness mentioned. “So if most individuals get it, then the possibilities of individuals getting very sick goes to be lots much less.”
