Earlier this year, the CDC expanded their recommendation of the Omicron COVID-19 boosters to children ages 5 through 11 years old. This decision followed the FDA’s authorization. The updated boosters are now available at provider’s offices, vaccine clinics, and pharmacies.

Children and adolescents can get the booster if it has been:

• at least 2 months after completion the primary series or
• at least 2 months after receiving an original (monovalent) mRNA OR Johnson & Johnson booster.

Children ages 5-11 can now receive an Omicron booster dose from Pfizer. And children and adolescents ages 6-17 years can now receive an Omicron booster dose from Moderna.

The updated Omicron boosters have been adjusted to target the original virus and the circulating Omicron variants to provide better protection from COVID-19 in time for a predicted winter surge.

With school in session and holiday party schedules entering full swing, the Health Department highly recommends vaccination and, when eligible, the updated booster to help increase protection, and lower transmission, severe disease and death.