UTICA — Following recent authorization by the Food and Drug Administration, the Oneida County Health Department is offering the Bivalent COVID-19 boosters at both Rome and Utica clinics.

Bivalent COVID-19 boosters can be administered two months following the primary series or booster dose. Both Moderna and Pfizer bivalent boosters are available. Individuals 18 years or older are eligible for Moderna and those 12 and older are eligible for Pfizer. These updated boosters provide an immune response that is broadly protective against COVID-19 as well as provide better protection against COVID-19 caused by the currently predominant Omicron variant.

“We continue to encourage all residents to use the tools we have to protect us against serious illness and death from COVID-19 and one of our strongest tools is vaccines,” said Daniel W. Gilmore, health director for the Oneida County Health Department. “Get vaccinated if you haven’t already and get boosted once you are eligible.”