New COVID-19 Booster Shot Available in NH

The updated COVID-19 booster is now available in New Hampshire as winter approaches, with the possibility of a fall surge in the number of cases.

It is recommended that anyone 12 or older who completed their COVID-19 primary series or received a booster dose at least two months ago get the updated booster, according to State Epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan.

It is available at COVID-19 vaccination centers including pharmacies and urgent care centers. Locations can be found at vaccines.nh.gov.

“These updated booster doses more closely align to the new COVID-19 Omicron variant and is the most effective way to prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19,” Chan said in a statement. “As we have seen in the past, we anticipate a fall surge and recommend everyone 12 or older get an updated booster dose.”

The Maine Department of Health has not made an announcement on availability of the new booster.

No Human Testing on the New Booster

FDA commissioner Dr. Robert Califf said in a series of tweets that the new booster, also called bivalent doses, did not test the reformulated shots in humans, only mice, in order to meet a Biden Administration goal for a fall booter campaign, according to NBC News.

The true effectiveness of the booster won't be known until it is administered to humans.

As of Friday, 65.3% of those eligible in New Hampshire have completed a primary series of COVID-19 shots and 75% have received at least one dose, according to the NH Department of Health & Human Services.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH