ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS (September 19, 2022) — The Rock Island County Health Department (RICHD) will have only fifty doses of the new Moderna bivalent booster available for its regular Tuesday COVID-19 vaccination clinic on September 20. Doses of the Pfizer bivalent booster vaccine will be offered when this week’s Moderna supply runs out.
The FDA has authorized the safe and effective use of mix-and-match booster doses based on results from a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases-supported research study. Those who received the first two doses of Moderna (primary series) can receive either Moderna or Pfizer as boosters, no matter which brand was given for previous booster doses.
Nationally, demand for the new booster that is formulated to protect against the Omicron subvariants and the original virus strain is outstripping production.
“We have ordered more Moderna booster doses, but we don’t know when they will be available for shipping,” said Nita Ludwig, administrator of the Rock Island County Health Department. “We will notify Quad City media and post on our social media channels when additional Moderna doses are available.”
The Pfizer booster is available to anyone 12 years and older, and the Moderna is offered for people ages eighteen years and older. Those eligible can get the bivalent booster at least two months after their most recent dose.
RICHD offers two walk-in clinics a week: Moderna on Tuesdays and Pfizer on Fridays. Hours are 9AM to noon and 1-4PM for both clinics. No appointments are needed. Those coming to all clinics are asked to bring their vaccination cards.
First and second doses of the Moderna vaccine also will be available at each Tuesday clinic. Pfizer primary series doses are offered every Friday.
In addition to health departments across the country, the updated boosters are available at pharmacies and other healthcare providers. The best way to locate a vaccine provider near you is to go to www.vaccines.gov and search for bivalent booster availability.
