AKRON, Ohio — Summit County Public Health will host two drive-thru vaccination clinics to provide residents with the new bivalent COVID-19 booster shots.

The bivalent booster is designed to target three strains of the virus — the original strain and two Omicron variants, considered the most widespread in the world, officials said.

The boosters will be administered by appointment only, which can be made on the health department website. No walk-ins will be accepted and masks must be worn during the clinics.

The clinics are Tuesday, Sept. 20 and Wednesday, Sept. 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the health department office, 1867 W. Market St. in west Akron.

Residents who have completed a primary series of COVID vaccinations are eligible to get the booster, officials said.  The bivalent booster can be given two months or more after the last dose in the primary series or monovalent booster.

The primary vaccine series includes two doses of Pfizer or Moderna or one dose of Johnson & Johnson, health officials said. Those who received the Novovax vaccine are not eligible for a bivalent booster.

Residents who have completed a primary series can take either the Pfizer or Moderna bivalent booster, regardless of which series they were initially given, officials said.

The health department has a limited amount of Moderna, so it will be administered on a first come first served basis, officials said.

Health officials expect authorization soon for kids younger than 12 to be able to receive a bivalent booster. To be eligible for the bivalent booster when it becomes available, children, like adults, must have completed their primary vaccine series, health officials said.

Visit the Summit County Public Health website for more information or call the COVID-19 Line 330-926-5795, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.