The Hamilton County Health Department will no longer administer the COVID-19 vaccines that target the original coronavirus strain, switching instead to the updated “bivalent” vaccines for all doses administered to people 6 months of age and older.
The updated vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer target the original strain as well as newer omicron variants. Initially, individuals were only eligible for the updated “bivalent” as a booster dose two months after completing their initial vaccination series or their most recent booster shot.
“This updated vaccination schedule is the biggest step towards normalcy that we have had since the start of the pandemic,” Hamilton County Health Officer Dr. Stephen Miller said in a news release. “At this stage, evidence demonstrates that most of the U.S. population 5 years and older have some protection against COVID-19, either from vaccination or infection.”
Miller said residents are encouraged to stay up-to-date with vaccinations to maintain or build protection.