West Central Michigan News

Health Department Providing New Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine & New Bivalent Boosters

• Two-dose series of Novavax approved for ages 12+
• New bivalent boosters (Moderna ages 18+ and Pfizer ages 12+) offer protection against newest contagious Omicron variants
• Available at all Health Department Immunization clinics

The Detroit Health Department is now providing the Novavax two-dose COVID-19 vaccine to ages 12+ as well as the new bivalent booster doses (Pfizer version for ages 12+ and Moderna version for ages 18+) following Emergency Use Authorization by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and approval by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).

The newest COVID-19 vaccines/boosters is available at all Health Department immunization locations along with other vaccines for all age groups.

The Novavax vaccine will be administered in two doses 3 weeks apart. The Novavax vaccine uses a spike protein combined with a supplement derived from the bark of a South American tree to produce an immune response. The technology differs from the messenger mRNA technology employed by both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines.

The Moderna and Pfizer bivalent vaccine boosters are designed to provide protection against the original strain of COVID-19 and the newer, more contagious Omicron variants (BA.4 and BA.5). The bivalent doses are only available as boosters for people who completed their primary vaccination series at least two months ago. Age eligibility requirements are different for each booster:

• Moderna Bivalent ages 18+
• Pfizer Bivalent ages 12+

“We are now able to offer Detroiters a third choice for getting vaccinated against COVID-19, and a booster that will offer greater protection against the contagious Omicron variants,” said Denise Fair Razo, Chief Public Health Officer. “I encourage everyone to get vaccinated and get boosted when they are due, because the vaccines remain the best tool we have for staying healthy and protected against COVID-19.”

Dr. Claudia Richardson, Medical Director of the Detroit Health Department, said:  “Detroiters are spending more time indoors with schools back in session and cooler weather on the way. We strongly encourage anyone who is eligible to get a booster dose with a bivalent vaccine. The FDA has been planning for the possibility that COVID-19 vaccines would need to be modified to provide greater protection, in much the same way as influenza vaccines are modified each year.”

Vaccinations and boosters are available at all three Detroit Health Department immunization clinic locations:

Detroit Health Department                100 Mack Avenue                   M-F      8 AM – 4:30 PM

Northwest Activities Center               18100 Meyers                         M-F      10 AM – 6 PM

                                                                                                            SAT      9 AM – 1 PM

Samaritan Center                                5555 Conner                           M-F      9 AM – 4 PM

Walk-ins are accepted but appointments are highly recommended. Appointments may be self-scheduled on our website:  www.detroitmi.gov/health or text “vaccine” to 313-329-7272.

Original source can be found here.