New 'Bivalent' COVID Booster Now Available In Somerset County

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — The new "bivalent" COVID-19 booster vaccines are now being offered to Somerset County residents. This new vaccine booster from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech offers significant protection against both the original strain and the more prevalent, more contagious Omicron variant.

"COVID-19 continues to spread in our community, and the Omicron variant spreads even more quickly than earlier variants while being, thankfully, somewhat less severe," said Commissioner Doug Singleterry, liaison to the Somerset County’s Department of Health (SCDoH). "We encourage residents who have completed their vaccination or been boosted at least two months ago to come get the updated booster, and for those who have not been vaccinated to come in for their primary course."

The new Moderna COVID-19 bivalent vaccine will be administered to residents 18 years and older, while the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Bivalent vaccine will be administered to those 12 years and older. Eligible individuals must bring proof of vaccination to receive either bivalent booster dose. All Somerset County COVID-19 vaccination clinics are listed at SoCoNJ.gov/vaxclinics.

Clinics are held each Wednesday in September at the Somerset County Senior Wellness Center in Bridgewater, 876 E. Main Street, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Vaccines for all approved age groups will be available, including Moderna for children six months to five years and Pfizer-BioNTech for children six months to four years, as well as the two-dose primary series for any resident who is still unvaccinated.

As new variants continue to emerge, Somerset County reminds residents to monitor their health and get tested if they develop COVID-19 symptoms.

The county also offered the following recommendations to help prevent the spread of the virus:

• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines
• Avoid poorly ventilated spaces & crowds
• Move activities outside, when possible
• Monitor health daily and stay home when sick
• Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Get tested for COVID-19 if you have symptoms
• Follow recommendations if you’ve been exposed

For more information visit the Somerset County Department of Health's website at SoCoNJ.gov/health.

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