New COVID-19 Booster Shot Rolling Out In Union County

UNION COUNTY, NJ —Union County residents aged 12 and over are now eligible to receive the new bivalent COVID-19 booster shots authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration at any vaccination clinic run by Union County.

The new bivalent boosters are made by Moderna and Pfizer and both target the two main Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5, in addition to targeting the original COVID-19 strain.

To be eligible for the new bivalent booster, residents must be 12 years of age or older and must have completed their primary vaccination series, consisting of two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Those who have received the new Novavax vaccine are not yet eligible for any booster at this time. Children ages 5 to 11 will continue to receive the monovalent booster shots.

You can read more about vaccine eligibility on the CDC website.

The vaccination clinics run by Union County welcome walk-ins for booster shots, but appointments are recommended. Residents who previously scheduled a monovalent booster shot at a Union County vaccination clinic will need to make a new appointment to receive a bivalent booster.

Residents can receive the new bivalent booster shot two months after they have completed their primary series, or two months after their last booster shot.

The monovalent booster shots are no longer authorized for people 12 years old and above. Only children ages 5 to 11 will continue to receive the monovalent booster shots. At this time, booster shots are not authorized for children and infants under age 5.

Union County residents who are not vaccinated yet are urged to begin their primary series as soon as possible, and then follow up with the new bivalent booster shot as soon as they are eligible (or monovalent booster for ages 5-11).

The primary series is authorized for all adults, children and infants beginning at 6 months.

Union County’s vaccine clinics currently offer all authorized vaccines and boosters as follows:

Warinanco Sports Center, 1 Park Drive at Warinanco Park in Roselle:

On Tuesdays, the Warinanco clinic is open only for ages 6 months to five years to receive the Pfizer (6 months to 4 years) or Moderna (6 months to 5 years) vaccines. The hours of operation on Tuesdays are 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

On Thursdays, the Warinanco clinic provides all vaccines and booster formulations for all age groups. The hours of operation are 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Plainfield High School, 950 Park Avenue in Plainfield (use the Kenyon Avenue entrance):

On Saturdays, the Plainfield High School clinic provides all vaccines and booster formulations. The hours of operation are 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (please note the clinic will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on September 17).

To make an appointment for a vaccination at either the Warinanco or Plainfield clinics, create an account or log into an existing account through Union County’s vaccination portal, ucnj.org/covid19. If additional assistance is needed call 908-613-7829.

Home-bound residents may be eligible for a home vaccination visit. To make an appointment, call the Union County Office of Health Management at 908-613-7829 during regular weekday business hours, or leave a call-back message after hours.

For details about Union County’s mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinics and other resources visit ucnj.org/covid19.

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