Coronavirus booster shots targeting several virus strains are now available at vaccination locations throughout San Diego County, including pharmacies and medical providers health officials announced this week.
The bivalent boosters were developed to generate an immune response from the original COVID-19 virus, including the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants.
The Pfizer/BioNTech bivalent boosters are available to individuals 12 and older, while individuals aged 18 and older may take the Moderna bivalent booster. Health authorities have not authorized a bivalent booster for individuals under 12.
“These new boosters are safe and effective at protecting people against the Omicron variants, which are currently causing the majority of new infections in our region,” said Cameron Kaiser, M.D., M.P.H., County deputy public health officer. “Supplies of the bivalent vaccine will initially be limited, so we ask anyone who is planning to get the new booster to be patient.
Individuals seeking bivalent booster doses must have recieved the two-dose primary series of Pfizer, Moderna, or Novavax, or at least one of the Jassen Vaccine. Anyone who received a previous COVID-19 vaccine less than two months ago can get the bivalent booster eight weeks after their last shot.
Bivalent boosters are offered at the following county-operated locations on a first-come-first-serve basis:
South Region Live Well Center
150 doses a day
690 Oxford St, Chula Vista, 91911
10 a.m. to 5:30 P.M.
East Public Health Center
60 doses a day
367 N. Magnolia Ave, El Cajon, 92020
8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Central Region Public Health Center
60 doses a day
5202 University Ave, San Diego, 92105
8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
North Inland Public Health Center
60 doses a day
649 W. Mission Ave, Escondido 92025
9:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
It is expected for bivalent doses to become available on the state’s My Turn system in the near future. More information about County vaccine locations is available at coronavirus-sd.com or by calling 2-1-1.
