Media Contact: Kelli Hawkins, SRHD | khawkins@srhd.org | 509.324.1539, c 509.994.8968

Spokane, Wash. – Today, the Washington State Department of Health announced the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup reviewed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s (CDC) amended emergency use authorizations (EUA) of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to authorize bivalent formulations of the vaccines for use as single booster doses for children ages 5-11. Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) supports their recommendation and will begin offering the age-appropriate booster at vaccine clinics and have it available to providers through their vaccine depot.

The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent, is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 6 years of age and older. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent, is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 5 years of age and older. Children ages 6 months to 4 years remain eligible for the primary, monovalent COVID-19 vaccine series from both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna and are not currently authorized for any COVID-19 booster doses.

Dr. Francisco Velázquez, Spokane County Health Officer with SRHD, explained the bivalent COVID-19 boosters were designed to provide broader protection against newer variants.

“We are pleased to see we can now administer the safe and effective bivalent boosters to even more members of our community,” Velázquez said. “This will provide people with greater protection from severe disease and mortality, especially going into the winter season where families will be coming together more for the holidays, people are gathering indoors more often, and other viruses are more likely to spread at the same time.”

Providers enrolled to administer COVID-19 vaccines may be waiting for the bivalent booster doses to arrive before offering appointments. It is recommended to talk to your pediatrician or health care provider if you have questions or concerns about the vaccine, but to have patience as you wait for appointments to become available.

“Now is a good time to initiate COVID-19 vaccination if you haven’t already or to get up to date with your COVID-19 vaccination by getting a booster. I encourage you to talk to your provider if you have questions or concerns,” said Velázquez.

To find a vaccine appointment, visit vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov or call the COVID-19 Information Hotline at 1-800-525-0127, then press # to be directed to vaccine providers in Spokane County. Language assistance is available. SRHD will also have community clinics posted on their website at srhd.org.

Health care providers are asked to enroll in vaccine administration by completing the COVID-19 Provider Inquiry Form on the DOH COVID-19 Vaccination Program Enrollment webpage (under COVID-19 Vaccination Program Enrollment).