Simplified COVID-19 vaccine and booster guidance available

April 24th, 2023

The CDC’s new recommendations allow an additional bivalent vaccine dose for people aged 65 and up, and additional doses for people who are immunocompromised. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

From now on, anyone getting a COVID-19 shot or booster dose will receive an updated version of the vaccine. The newest bivalent version targets the dominant omicron variant along with an earlier virus strain.

The United States Food and Drug Administration announced the simplified vaccination schedule last week.

In addition, the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now making the shots available on a more flexible schedule for people in the highest-risk groups, including people over 65 or with weakened immune systems.

The change means older adults and immunocompromised people can now receive an extra booster dose this spring.

CDC is no longer recommending the original monovalent vaccine for use in the U.S.

In Georgia, the Department of Public Health reports there are currently more than 2,300 new confirmed cases this week of COVID-19, and 28 more deaths have been reported.

Unvaccinated people continue to face a much higher risk of death than people who are vaccinated against COVID-19. Still, full-vaccination and bivalent booster data show Georgia lags behind the rest of the country.

To locate a vaccine near you, visit vaccines.gov or call 1-800-232-0233.