Bivalent Vaccinations Administered for All Eligible Residents Nears 12%
Santa Clara County, Calif. 18 Oct. 2022 – The County of Santa Clara has begun accepting bivalent COVID-19 booster appointments for children aged 5-11 at its mass vaccination locations and local clinics.
According to the CDC, youth can get the new Omicron-specific booster as soon as two months after completion of the initial COVID-19 series or receipt of the most recent COVID-19 booster.
The public is also reminded to check with their local healthcare provider or pharmacy for an appointment. Those without a primary healthcare provider or who are having difficulty finding an appointment can go through www.sccfreevax.org.
Public Health officials encourage everyone 5 and older to receive the updated bivalent COVID-19 booster, commonly known as the Omicron booster. Currently, just under 12% of eligible County residents have received the updated booster.
“COVID-19 infections have spiked over the last two winters, and we all need to be ready for this winter, too,” said Dr. Sara Cody, Health Officer and Director of Public Health for the County of Santa Clara. “We recommend that everyone who is eligible for the bivalent booster get it as soon as they can. It’s the first and most important layer of protection against COVID-19.”
The bivalent vaccines should provide a greater level of protection against COVID-19 by targeting the original strain of the novel coronavirus as well as the currently dominant Omicron BA.5 variant. Every level of defense could prove important as additional Omicron variants are quickly spreading in other parts of the United States. Moreover, the Biden administration recently extended the COVID-19 public health emergency in case of a winter surge.
It is important to remember that vaccine effectiveness wanes over time and being up-to-date on vaccinations includes getting the new bivalent booster.
“It is currently very easy to make an appointment and keep you and your family as protected as possible heading into the holiday season,” said Dr. Jennifer Tong, Associate Chief Medical Officer for Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.
All California residents who work for companies with at least 26 people are eligible for paid sick leave to receive a vaccination for themselves or a family member. This state program is available through the end of 2022.
