LEXINGTON, Ky. — UK Healthcare officials expect to have the new COVID-19 booster shots—ones made specifically to protect against new omicron variants—by the beginning of next week.

What You Need To Know

  • Less than half of Kentucky’s vaccinated population has gotten a booster shot so far

  • Doctors recommend waiting two months after your last COVID vaccine shot to get the booster

  • The updated boosters are becoming available right as fall begins, which UK Healthcare Assistant Director of Pharmacy Operations Jim Hallahan said is when doctors tend to see more illnesses in general, like the flu

“The original vaccine actually gave us pretty good protection, but this more specific version with this BA.4, BA.5 variant in it, actually gives us a slightly better response to what’s circulating right now,” said University of Kentucky assistant professor Vince Venditto.

Venditto said it’s hard to find anyone that doesn’t want COVID to be over.  

“I’m exhausted of COVID. I want this to be done. I think everybody wants this to be done,” he said. “But it is important that we continue to stay vigilant.”

The updated boosters are becoming available right as fall begins, which UK Healthcare Assistant Director of Pharmacy Operations Jim Hallahan said is when doctors tend to see more illnesses in general, like the flu.

“We have a tendency to pick up a lot more viruses,” he said. “Viruses spread between children and school, and then obviously it spreads in the community itself.”

Less than half of Kentucky’s vaccinated population has gotten a booster shot so far, but Venditto said it’s important to keep the virus from having more damaging effects, and it’ll help keep the strain on hospitals down heading into the winter.

Doctors recommend waiting two months after your last COVID vaccine shot to get the booster. Anyone who hasn’t received the vaccine at all yet would receive the original doses first.