Kanawha-Charleston Health Department will begin administering both the much-anticipated COVID-19 bivalent booster and the flu vaccine beginning Monday, Sept. 12, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. No appointments are required for these vaccines.
KCHD will be administering the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Bivalent Booster. It is authorized for those ages 12 years and older who have completed the primary series with any approved COVID-19 vaccine and their most recent COVID-19 vaccine of any kind was at least two months ago. There is no charge for the booster.
The bivalent COVID-19 booster can be administered the same day as other vaccines.
People from six months of age and older are eligible for the flu vaccine, which will be billed to insurance or given at a low cost for individuals without insurance.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this month endorsed boosters adding Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 spike protein components to the current vaccine composition helping to restore protection that has waned over time. Those variants are highly transmissible.
“With children back in school and holidays on the horizon, it’s really important to stay ahead of COVID-19’s Omicron variants and the flu,” said Dr. Steven Eshenaur, Kanawha-Charleston Health Officer. “Kids have missed enough school, and no one wants to miss out on the holidays again this year. I urge all Kanawha Countians – and those who travel into our cities for work – to get the COVID-19 bivalent booster and the flu shot.”
Although walk-ins are welcome for COVID-19 primary vaccines, boosters and flu, appointments are required for additional services. To reach the KCHD Clinic, call304-348-8080.