The health department is now offering updated boosters from both Pfizer and Moderna!

What’s different about the updated boosters?

COVID-19 vaccines already provided strong protection against hospitalization and death. This updated vaccine (a “bivalent” vaccine) offers more protection because it targets both the original COVID-19 strain AND the currently circulating BA.4 and BA.5 omicron variants. These vaccines are more like the annual flu vaccines that target different flu strains.

Who should get these booster doses?

Anyone 12 or older who got their initial series of vaccinations or latest booster dose at least 2 months ago.

The FDA authorized the: 

Moderna bivalent booster for everyone 18 and older at least 2 months after primary vaccination or most recent booster.

Pfizer bivalent booster for everyone 12 and older at least 2 months after primary vaccination or most recent booster. 

Will children be eligible soon?

In the coming weeks, CDC also expects to recommend updated COVID-19 boosters for other pediatric groups after evaluation by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

• When data is available, the FDA will review it and decide if updated pediatric boosters should be authorized.
• After the FDA's decision, the CDC will make its recommendations.
• Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services will work with the CDC to get the pediatric vaccine and the Kansas City Health Department will order through them.

When can I get one?

Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 13, you can get an updated Pfizer or Moderna booster. You can get your flu shot during the same visit. 

I haven’t been vaccinated yet. Will I get this vaccine for my initial doses?

No. These doses are not for primary-series vaccination. They are boosters for people who got their primary-series vaccinations or latest booster dose at least 2 months ago.

If I received Novavax protein subunit vaccine, am I eligible?

No, Those who have recently received Novavax are not yet eligible for any booster at this time.

Are these safe?

Although COVID-19 vaccines were developed quickly, research and development on vaccines like these have been underway for decades.

All vaccine development steps were taken to ensure COVID-19 vaccine safety and effectiveness, including:

Clinical Trials – All vaccines in the United States must go through three phases of clinical trials to ensure they are safe and effective. The phases overlapped to speed up the process, but all phases were completed.

Authorization or Approval – Before vaccines are available to people, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviews data from clinical trials. FDA has determined COVID-19 vaccines meet FDA’s standards and has granted those vaccines Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) or full FDA approval.

Tracking Safety Using Vaccine Monitoring Systems – Like every other vaccine approved for use in the United States, COVID-19 vaccines continue to be monitored for safety and effectiveness. Hundreds of millions of people in the United States have safely received COVID-19 vaccines. CDC and FDA continue to provide updated information on the safety of U.S. authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccines using data from several monitoring systems.

“We encourage those who are eligible to receive this new booster dose as it will greatly help protect individuals from the variant most commonly detected today and for the past several months,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. George Turabelidze with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). “As we head into the fall and winter months, this added protection becomes even more important since viruses generally tend to circulate at a more rapid pace during this time.”