CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The Orange County Health Department began its fall COVID-19 booster vaccinations ahead of appointments Friday.

The Orange County Health Department opened its COVID-19 updated booster availability for booking

The fall boosters target circulating strains of the novel coronavirus

Health experts say more protection is good with a likely more severe flu season

One base of operation at the OCHD made some doses of the new COVID-19 boosters available to walk-ins Wednesday.

“I think it’s our role to make sure everybody in our community has access to the vaccines,” Quintana Stewart said.“I think it’s our role to make sure everybody in our community has access to the vaccines,” Quintana Stewart said.

Stewart is the OCHD health director. She’s been at the helm since 2017. 

“You can get this COVID bivalent booster at the same time that you get your flu shot. It’s safe to do so,” Stewart said.

Recipients received the Moderna boosters midweek. By Friday when appointments start, the Pfizer will be offered too.

Stewart said the beauty of these latest shots is the tailored immunity against the most common versions of the novel coronavirus.

“These are still safe, very effective, but it gives us some more targeted protection against the variants we know are circulating,” she said.

The strains in circulation are the omicron subvariants: BA.4 and BA.5.

The health director said the public health community has learned much about the evolution of this virus over the last two and a half years.

“I think it’s important because we all want to get back to our life, whatever normal is but pre-COVID as close to it as we can,” she said.

The public health pro of more than 20 years said the booster is modeled after the flu vaccine. Bivalent boosters target the variants floating in the public to give someone the best immune response possible. Stewart said protection against the influenza and COVID-19 viruses will be key entering the seasonal flu season.

The bivalent formula even offers safety against the original strand too.

“We've had some quiet flu seasons here the last couple of years, and I think it was because we were doing so many other strategies to prevent COVID,” Stewart said.“We've had some quiet flu seasons here the last couple of years, and I think it was because we were doing so many other strategies to prevent COVID,” Stewart said.

Over the course of the pandemic, social safety measures, like masking and indoor confinements, kept the flu at bay. 

Many health experts expect holiday gatherings with family and friends in the colder months to bring a tougher flu season.

Stewart said if you were to be infected by two viruses at the same time, the newest COVID booster increases your odds of avoiding severe sickness while staying alive. She lost a cousin to the virus before the two-shot series became available.

“Seeing it hit closer to home made it even more personal because we don’t want to lose people if it's preventable,” she said.

She is constantly reminding family and close friends to schedule appointments, while also taking advantage of the availability now.

“It just intensified my efforts to spread the word,” she said.

It’s always been urgent and important to her because she works in public health.

“It’s what I do,” Stewart said.

The 45-year-old felt the public health’s role remains the same.  

“We continue to encourage prevention. That is our strong suit. That’s where we reside. That is where we live,” she said. “It’s the cornerstone of what we do. We protect our population. We protect our communities. I think it’s just one more thing that we add to our list of services.”

Appointments begin at 8:30 a.m. Friday. The vaccine clinic will be at 2501 Homestead Road in Chapel Hill.

Patients have the option of a Pfizer dose if they are 12 or older or the Moderna one if they are 18.

Staff members ask if you would like an appointment to call (919) 913-8088.

They take a lunch break from noon to 1 p.m.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance for people with recent infections is to consider delaying any COVID-19 vaccination, including bivalent booster vaccination, by three months from symptom onset or positive test (if infection was asymptomatic).