Updated COVID-19 boosters soon available to Alaskans

Following the U.S. Food and Drug and Administration (FDA) emergency authorization last week and approval by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), updated COVID-19 boosters are expected to be made available for Alaskans this week, according to a press release from the Alaska Department of Health.

The updated bivalent COVID-19 boosters by Moderna and Pfizer target 2 strains of COVID-19 – the original strain of the virus and 2 omicron subvariants (BA.4 and BA.5), currently the most widespread subvariants. The boosters will be available to people 12 years and older are eligible if they have completed a primary series and it has been at least two months since either their primary or a booster dose. As of Aug. 31, the original monovalent booster will not be available to people aged 12 years and older.

“It is great to have our first updated booster that protects against the virus currently circulating. This is another important tool to keep Alaskans protected against serious outcomes from COVID-19,” said Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink.

Alaska vaccine providers have ordered over 38,000 doses of the updated bivalent boosters, with deliveries anticipated this week.

“This updated booster is becoming widely available across the state. if you have questions, please talk to your health care provider, local pharmacist, public health nurse or call our COVID-19 vaccine helpline at 907-646-3322,” said Dr. Zink.

The Pfizer booster is currently authorized for people 12 years and older, while Moderna’s is currently authorized for people aged 18 years and older. Additionally, people 18 and older may receive either the Pfizer or Moderna booster, regardless of which product they received previously.

If Alaskans have not been vaccinated or have not completed their primary series, COVID vaccines are available at most pharmacies and health care providers’ offices in Alaska.

The DOH encourages Alaskans to stay up to date on influenza and COVID-19 vaccines for the prevention of severe disease, hospitalization, and death. The DOH also recommends everyone 6 months and older to get an annual flu shot. The Flu vaccine is available now in Alaska, which the CDC recommends people to receive in September or October, before flu begins circulating widely.

This week, the DOH also released its weekly COVID-19 report, with 1391 new cases reported. Of those cases, 902 were residents of Alaska, and 489 were out of state, with the DOH reporting that 68% of the nonresidents who had contracted COVID were visiting Alaska as a tourist.

For more information on updated bivalent boosters, including how to find a vaccine provider, visit covidvax.alaska.gov. Additional information COVID-19 can be found at covid19.alaska.gov. COVID-19 data for Alaska is available at on the COVID-19 data dashboard.