RALEIGH, N.C. – New COVID-19 booster shots for kids ages 5 to 11 are rolling out across North Carolina, according to state health officials.
What You Need To Know
Only 7% of people in North Carolina have received the new booster shot
Updated COVID-19 booster shots are now approved and available for kids ages 5 to 11 in North Carolina
UNC infectious disease professor and clinical scientist, Dr. David Wohl, says this booster is a big deal because it matches the current virus strain that is dominant in the U.S.
The bivalent COVID-19 booster shot, created to target the dominant strain of the virus in the U.S., was approved by the FDA on Thursday.
Clinical scientist and UNC infectious disease professor, Dr. David Wohl, says this specific booster shot represents a dramatic change from how we were fighting the COVID-19 virus.
“The new COVID-19 vaccine is so much better than what we've had before because it matches what's circulating, what's infecting people,” Wohl explained. Previously, we've had vaccines that were developed for a strain of the virus that disappeared pretty quickly during the pandemic. But now we've caught up, so this is a major leap forward.”
Wohl says if you take the bivalent vaccine, you can expect not to get infected.
“That's dramatically different than before,” Wohl said. “Not only will you not get severely ill, but it'll protect you from infection from the barrier that's circulating right this moment. That's a big deal.”
Right now, only 7% of North Carolinians have been vaccinated with the new booster dose, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Meanwhile, as of Sunday, the CDC ranks the Tar Heel State as the lowest in the country for adults ages 50 and up who have gotten both the first and second booster shots.
“Hopefully, we can catch up. Sometimes we start a little bit later than others, but are able to catch up, and I think that's what we need to do,” Wohl said.
Meanwhile, the CDC reports some states in the Southeast and south-central areas of the country are already seeing an uptick in early flu cases.
Wohl says people can safely receive both the COVID-19 bivalent booster and the flu shot at the same time.
“Now is a really great time to get the flu vaccine,” Wohl said. “If you're squeamish about that, separate by a week or so. But look, really clearly there's not been enough messaging, the new COVID-19 vaccine is so much better than what we've had before because it matches what's circulating, what's infecting people.”
In terms of staying safe at crowded events, such as the N.C. State Fair or the upcoming holidays with family, Wohl recommends topping up on the booster as the end of the year gets closer.
“If you've been infected with a variant that's circulating now, meaning you caught COVID-19 in September or October, chances are you're pretty protected,” Wohl said. “That doesn't mean I wouldn't get another shot by bivalent maybe in a couple of months before the holidays.”
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