NY Children 5 To 11 Now Eligible For Bivalent COVID Booster

NEW YORK — Children in New York who are 5 years of age and older are now eligible to receive the bivalent booster shots recommended to increase protection against COVID-19.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the policy change Wednesday after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended its emergency used authorization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its clinical guidance.

The development will collectively allow more children to safely boost their immunity against COVID-19.

Hochul said, being able to provide the bivalent boosters to an even greater number of children around the state will expand protection against the Omicron variants.

“I encourage all eligible New Yorkers to get these boosters to protect themselves, their families, their children and our communities from this virus as we head into the cold weather months,” she said.

The state Department of Health said New Yorkers 5 years and older should receive the bivalent booster dose at least two months after completing their initial vaccine series or following their last booster or additional vaccine dose.

Eligible children 5 and older can receive the Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent booster and those 6 and older can receive Moderna’s bivalent booster.

Health officials said viruses commonly mutate over time, so scientists update a vaccine’s composition to be as effective as possible in protecting against the strain that is circulating.

In addition to recommending bivalent boosters for all who are eligible, the Department of Heath continues to urge parents and guardians to have any of their children who are 6 months old and up complete their primary vaccine series as soon as possible. Receiving the initial doses are necessary to be eligible for a booster two months later.

More than 1.1 million bivalent boosters have already been administered to individuals 12 years and older in New York. Providers that pre-ordered and received bivalent doses are authorized to begin administering shots to New Yorkers 5 years and older.

Booster doses are free and available statewide. Supply is increasing each week as orders by providers continue to be filled by vaccine manufacturers. To schedule a shot, New Yorkers should contact a health care provider, local pharmacy or county health department.

New Yorkers can also visit vaccines.gov, text their ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find nearby locations. At vaccines.gov, after entering a 5-digit ZIP Code, New Yorkers can click "Updated Vaccines" and select the bivalent booster type by age they are seeking to book an appointment for themselves or their children.