MCHD to offer updated COVID-19 vaccines for children

January 12, 2023

MCHD to offer updated COVID-19 vaccines for children

MOBILE, Ala. — The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention last month expanded the use of updated (bivalent) COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 6 months through 4 years. That follows the U.S. Food & Drug Administration amending the emergency use authorizations of the updated vaccines.

The Mobile County Health Department (MCHD) will offer the updated Pfizer-BioNTech Infant bivalent shots starting this week.

The updated Pfizer-BioNTech Infant bivalent boosters became available on December 9, 2022, for children ages 6 months to 4 years to complete the primary series. While the Moderna Infant bivalent booster was approved on the same day, at this time MCHD has not received the vaccine.

Dr. Kevin Philip Michaels, Health Officer for Mobile County, recommends “one updated (bivalent) booster dose for children aged 6 months to 4 years who completed the Moderna primary series and if it has been at least 2 months since their last dose. There is no booster recommendation for children aged 6 months to 4 years who got the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine primary series.”

Dr. Michaels goes on to say that “this is great time for all to review their vaccination status and get started on or boosted if eligible against COVID-19. Please visit https://www.vaccines.gov to find a vaccine provider near you. Then call or visit their website to make an appointment.”

Vaccinations and rapid testing are available at MCHD’s Festival Centre location (3725 Airport Boulevard, Suite 101-A, in Mobile) and the Southwest Public Health Center (5580 Inn Road in Tillman’s Corner). These in-clinic services from the COVID-19 Response Team are available on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are no out-of-pocket costs.

While no appointment is required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, individual appointments must be made for rapid testing online at this link — https://appointments.mchd.org.