New COVID-19 Booster In Atlanta: Ensure Your Immune System Is Protected

The new COVID-19 booster is here. It's vital to know what this COVID-19 vaccine covers, who can get it, and how to make a vaccination appointment today.

The new bivalent vaccines greatly help prevent severe illness and death, all while targeting the BA.4 and BA.5 omicron subvariants. These vaccines appeared just in time for fall. And they're perhaps the most promising injections to combat COVID-19 yet.

But what does this new COVID-19 vaccine booster shot do? And who should get the new COVID-19 booster?

Approval Of The New COVID-19 Booster

The FDA recently gave the green light to an updated COVID-19 booster that covers the incredibly contagious Omicron variants of COVID-19. In a press release, the FDA states:

"The bivalent vaccines, which we will also refer to as “updated boosters,” contain two messenger RNA (mRNA) components of SARS-CoV-2 virus, one of the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 and the other one in common between the BA.4 and BA.5 lineages of the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2."

This coverage is crucial in protecting everyone from COVID-19 by building a robust immune response.

This new bivalent vaccine booster shot will replace existing boosters for people over the age of 12.

As the name suggests, the bivalent booster targets the two subvariants of omicron: BA.4 and BA.5.

What Are The BA.4 And BA.5. Omicron Variants?

Last winter, the omicron variant spread far and wide. This made the surge one of the most severe waves during the entire pandemic thus far.

In fact, in Georgia, health systems experienced a staggering 100% to 200% hospitalizations in a weeklong period in late December 2021. And we experienced much of the same with the newer omicron subvariants.

And omicron's transmissibility and virulence increased with the spread of the dominant BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants. With them, the ease of transmissions via spike protein mutations has increased significantly.

While these subvariants are more resistant to antibodies of the original virus, your body will recognize BA.4 and BA.5.

In short, being vaccinated will still give you adequate protection against severe illness and death.

That's why vaccinating against COVID-19 is crucial to preventing illness and easing the medical system.

Common COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects

When you get the newer vaccine, what can you expect regarding side effects? Here are some common COVID-19 vaccine booster shot side effects:

• Sore arm at the site of injection
• Minor fever
• Chills
• Headache
• Nausea
• Joint pain
• Fatigue

Who Is Eligible For The New COVID-19 Vaccine Booster In Atlanta?

The criteria for who can receive the new bivalent vaccine booster are straightforward:

• People 18 and older are eligible for the new Moderna vaccine booster
• People 12 and older can take the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster.

Where And When Should You Get The COVID-19 Vaccine Booster?

You can get the new bivalent boosters in pharmacies and urgent cares in Atlanta. You can get the booster two months after a previous booster shot and soon after you recover from a bout of COVID-19. Be sure to consult your doctor to determine the best time to vaccinate.

At WestsideMed, these new vaccine booster shots will be available.

The CDC has you covered for those not in the Atlanta area who need information. Be sure to search where to find vaccines and vaccine appointments using Vaccines.gov, a tool to connect Americans with better health.

Getting Vaccinated In Atlanta At WestsideMed

Overall, it's crucial to vaccinate against COVID-19 and all its variants. For more information, contact WestsideMed and book a vaccine appointment today!