Updated COVID-19 boosters available in the CNMI

The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. and the Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force, with guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Food and Drug Administration, will be offering the updated (bivalent) COVID-19 single booster dose to individuals 12 years and older at least 2 months after their last COVID-19 primary series shot or original (monovalent) booster shot. 

The CDC recommends that everyone ages 12 years and older get an updated COVID-19 bivalent booster, when eligible. People ages 12 years and older who received a primary series, including those who received a monovalent booster dose(s), are recommended to receive 1 updated (bivalent) booster dose. For people ages 12 years and older, the only authorized messenger RNA (mRNA) booster is the updated (bivalent) booster. People ages 12 years and older can no longer get the original (monovalent) mRNA booster. Children ages 5 – 11 who received the Pfizer-BioNTech primary series are eligible for 1 monovalent booster dose. 

Individuals are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines if they have completed a COVID-19 vaccine primary series and received the most recent booster dose recommended for them by the CDC. No booster doses are currently authorized for individuals below 5 years of age. 

According to the CDC, the bivalent vaccine product is based on the original (ancestral) strain of SARS-CoV-2 and the omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants of SARS-CoV-2. 

Eligible individuals can obtain a COVID-19 primary or booster shot by calling the CHCC 
Immunization Program at (670) 236-8745 for scheduling and information. 

COVID-19 vaccines are also available at the following locations: 

■ CHCC Children’s Clin
ic, Women’s Clinic, Fam
ily Care Clinic, call (670)
234-8951 
■ Medical Associates
of the Pacific, call (670)
323-9000 
■ Marianas Medical Cen
ter, call (670) 234-3926 
■ Tinian Health Center,
call (670) 433-9233
■ Rota Health Center, call
(670) 532-9461 
COVID-19 vaccines have undergone and continue to undergo the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history. Side effects after getting a COVID-19 vaccine can vary from person to person. They generally go away in a few days. Some people experience a little discomfort and can continue to go about their day. Others have side effects that affect their ability to do daily activities. Even if a person does not experience any side effects, their body is building protection. 

For more information about CHCC programs, follow @cnmichcc on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter; visit https://www.chcc.health; or call (670) 234-8950. (PR)