The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) will begin offering the new bivalent COVID-19 booster this week. This vaccine contains the genetic recipes for the original strain of COVID-19 and omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5, making it more effective against current variants.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommend the Pfizer booster for those aged 12 years and older and the Moderna booster for adults aged 18 and over. They will not replace the initial two-dose vaccine. People should receive the bivalent booster at least two months after their last booster shot or primary vaccination.
In Georgia, an average of 3,000 new COVID-19 cases are reported each week, over 89% of which are from the BA.5 variant. COVID-related hospitalizations and deaths continue to decrease in the state.