Milwaukee Health Department to begin administering booster shots targeting Omicron subvariant
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee Health Department announced plans to begin administering the updated single-dose Covid-19 bivalent booster vaccine on Monday, Sept. 12 at the Menomonee Valley Drive-Thru Clinic.
The updated boosters are the first Covid-19 vaccines made available to specifically target the original strain of Covid as well as the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants.
“The best way to protect yourself from severe illness from COVID-19 continues to be vaccination,” said Milwaukee Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson. “For many of us, it has been months since our last dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or booster dose, and those protections have waned. I strongly encourage everyone to seek out this updated booster dose to restore those protections. For those who have not yet received any COVID-19 vaccination, it’s never too late. Please get vaccinated today.”
The shots are recommended for people 12 and older who have received their primary Covid-19 vaccine series and have not received a Covid-19 vaccine dose in the last two months.
The health department says people 12 and older are eligible to receive the updated Pfizer COVID-19 booster, and those 18 and older are eligible to receive the updated Moderna COVID-19 booster. The Pfizer and Moderna updated boosters can be administered two months after any primary series – including Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, or Novavax – or two months following any additional original booster dose.
Boosters will also be offered at the Northwest Health Center (7630 W. Mill Rd.) and Southside Health Center (1639 S. 23rd St.) beginning on Tuesday, Sept. 13. The hours of operation for the immunization clinics are:
- Northwest Health Center & Southside Health Center
- Tuesday & Thursday: 2 – 6 p.m.
- Friday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Menomonee Valley Drive-Thru Clinic
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 12 – 6 p.m.
- Tuesday & Thursday: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Saturday: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Updated booster doses will be administered for free, without an appointment for all eligible individuals.
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