Updated COVID-19 booster shots now approved for Oregon children ages 5-11, OHA says – KTVZ

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Kids ages 5-11 in Oregon at the moment are eligible for the brand new up to date bivalent booster, Oregon Well being Authority introduced Thursday.

OHA additionally gave a abstract of the newest COVID-19 knowledge and tendencies and the standing of the continuing response to monkeypox (hMPXV) in Oregon.

“Yesterday, the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) expanded Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of COVID-19 vaccine boosters for kids 5-11,” mentioned Dean Sidelinger, M.D. M.S.Ed., well being officer and state epidemiologist at OHA. “The Western States Scientific Security Assessment Workgroup met final evening and affirmed the brand new eligibility suggestions.”

The workgroup famous that “the advantages of bivalent booster doses that extra intently match presently circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants will maintain safety in opposition to COVID-19-related hospitalizations and deaths in younger kids and considerably outweigh any potential dangers.”

The expanded EUA of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Trendy bivalent boosters for youthful ages, and the state and federal suggestions for his or her use, imply an estimated 343,000 extra folks in Oregon, between ages 5-11, at the moment are eligible to obtain a booster dose at the very least two months after ending a major collection or prior monovalent booster dose.

The up to date COVID-19 boosters add the genetic recipe for the omicron BA.4 and BA.5 spike protein parts to the unique vaccines, providing up to date safety that has waned within the normal inhabitants and concentrating on the extremely transmissible omicron variants which have develop into the predominant strains in Oregon and america.

Greater than 259,000 bivalent boosters have been administered statewide by OHA clinics, Tribal and public well being companions, pharmacies and well being care suppliers, Sidelinger mentioned. Knowledge from the state’s vaccine registry present that 6.1% of all folks in Oregon have obtained the brand new bivalent booster in comparison with 3.5% nationwide.

“Up to date boosters, now accessible for everybody in Oregon 5 years and older, are our greatest safety as we transfer into the autumn and winter, as respiratory viruses like COVID-19 sometimes unfold at increased charges,” he mentioned. “Including a flu shot to your appointment along with your physician or pharmacist will even assist defend as we transfer into the autumn.”

Sidelinger additionally highlighted progress to manage the unfold of monkeypox (hMPXV) in Oregon.

“As we glance to a brighter future in our COVID-19 response — with folks in Oregon persevering with to get the bivalent boosters and the provision of boosters for kids 11 and youthful — we’re feeling equally optimistic about monkeypox,” he mentioned.

Sidelinger reported that as of Wednesday, there have been 230 presumptive and confirmed instances of monkeypox in Oregon, with instances in 9 counties: 11 in Clackamas, two in Columbia, one in Coos, one in Hood River, 22 in Lane, eight in Marion, 157 in Multnomah, one in Union and 27 in Washington.

“We nonetheless have an amazing quantity of labor to do to make sure that people from communities of coloration obtain vaccines at increased charges — as they, sadly, are extra impacted on this outbreak,” Sidelinger added.

OHA encourages everybody focused on receiving the brand new COVID-19 booster to examine with their supplier to see when the booster is offered, or examine the OHA COVID-19 weblog or the Get Vaccinated Oregon website for areas across the state.

A recording of Thursday’s media availability will be discovered right here. Sidelinger’s ready remarks are printed right here.