OHIO — Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff held a press conference Thursday, encouraging those who are eligible for the recently updated COVID-19 boosters to get them as soon as possible.


What You Need To Know

  • The Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer and Moderna’s updated COVID-19 booster shots that target the BA.4 and BA.5 omicron variants

  • Many Ohio providers pre-ordered the boosters in August and have received shipments

  • Vanderhoff encouraged Ohioans to check with their providers or local pharmacies to see if they were one of the ones to receive a shipment

Last week, the Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer and Moderna’s updated COVID-19 booster shots that target the BA.4 and BA.5 omicron variants. 

Pfizer-BioNTech’s boosters are available to those 12 and older, and Moderna’s is available for those 18 and older.

Vanderhoff said many providers had a chance to pre-order the boosters in August, and those shipments have arrived. While the state awaits more, Vanderhoff said Ohioans should check with their health care provider or local pharmacy to see if they have them. 

“We remain vigilant, including getting vaccinated and getting boosted,” Vanderhoff said.

He encouraged those more at risk to seek out the booster as soon as possible. 

“That includes those who are immunocompromised, those who have a variety of underlying medical conditions or those who are 60 and older,” Vanderhoff said.

Vanderhoff said older Ohioans are far more at risk for developing severe illness from COVID-19. In Sept. 2021, 52% of the state’s COVID deaths were in the 70 and older age group. Last month, 77% of the state’s COVID deaths were in the same age group, according to Vanderhoff. 

Vaccine effectiveness wanes over time. The CDC recommends two boosters for most Americans age 50 and older, and one booster for most people 5 to 49.

Vanderhoff said the public can receive the second booster two months after receiving the first booster or two months after receiving the initial vaccine regime. Those who had recently had COVID should wait three months, health officials advise.

Ohio's COVID cases recently spiked after a downward trend. Last week, ODH, which updates the numbers every Thursday afternoon, reported 25,280 new COVID cases last week.

Ohio hit it's peak of cases this summer with more than 29,000 cases reported between July 22-28. Since then, cases declined until last week.