New COVID-19 boosters expected to be available this week to people in NC

NEWS COVERAGE. YOU CAN GO HOME. >> NOW AT 5.30, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO GET A FRESH NEW COVID-19 BOOSTER SHOT AS EARLY AS TOMORROW. THANKS FOR JOINING US. I’M LENA TILLETT AND I’M CHRIS LOVINGOOD. THIS NEW BOOSTER IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT AGAINST BA 4 NBA 5. THOSE VARIANTS. THEY WERE THE MOST COMMON STRAINS OF THE VIRUS ACROSS THE NATION. THE CDC RECOMMENDED THE UPDATED BOOSTERS FOR ADULTS AND TEENAGERS LAST WEEK AND WRAL’S. CHELSEA DONOVAN JOINS US LIVE WITH MORE ON WHAT EXPERTS NOW RECOMMEND AND HOW OUR STATE PLANS TO ROLL OUT THE NEW SHOT. CHELSEA. >> YEAH, THE GOOD NEWS IS OUR STATE SAYS THEY HAVE ABOUT A HALF A MILLION OF THESE NEW COVID BOOSTERS THAT WILL TRICKLE IN OVER THE NEXT 2 WEEK. HALF OF THOSE WE’LL GO TO PHARMACIES. NOW THESE NEW COVID BOOSTERS FOR THOSE 12 AND UP SHOULD BE READY TO GO INTO ARMS AS EARLY AS TOMORROW OR WEDNESDAY. >> YOUR PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY. IT’S 2 FOR ONE. YOU KNOW, RIGHT INSIDE THAT VACCINE, UNC INFECTIOUS DISEASE PHYSICIAN, DOCTOR DAVID WALL DESCRIBING THE NEW BOOSTER OUT THIS WEEK WITH BONUS INGREDIENTS TO FIGHT COVID-19 CHERRY ON TOP. >> IS THAT THERE’S ALSO A COMPONENT THAT HELPS YOUR BODY FIGHT OFF. >> BA 5 AND BA 5 ACCOUNTING FOR 84% OF CASES REPORTED IN OUR STATE OVER THE PAST 2 WEEKS, ACCORDING TO DHHS, IT TELLS YOU THIS IS A VERY SUPER SPREADING VIRUS, WHICH IS WHY HE’S STANDING BEHIND THE NEW BOOSTER OUT THIS WEEKEND BACKED BY THE CDC, PFIZER AND MODERNA OFFERING THE SHOTS ALSO KNOWN AS BIVALENT VACCINES. THEY ARE DESIGNED TO TARGET BOTH THE ORIGINAL CORONAVIRUS STRAIN AND THE CURRENTLY CIRCULATING OMICRON SUBVARIANTS BA 4 AND BA 5. ANYONE 12 AND OLDER IS ELIGIBLE. ALL OF US WHO HAVE NOT HAD A BOOSTER WITHIN THE LAST 2 MONTHS. SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER GETTING THIS. >> WALL SAYS THE NEW BOOSTER SHOULD LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. MANY WE TALKED TO ARE READY TO GET THE NEW SHOT AS WINTER SEASON APPROACHES. I WANT NOT ONLY PROTECT MYSELF, BUT EVERYBODY ELSE. SOME PLAYING A MORE WAIT AND SEE APPROACH THE ROLLOUT OF SMILE FOR ME IT WITH IT. >> AND JUST, YOU KNOW, IT. TO BECOME OR SOMETHING ABOUT GETTING A LOT OF SHOTS WHILE BELIEVES THE NEW BOOSTERS COULD BE A KEY PLAYER IN HOW THE REST OF THE YEAR PLAYS OUT. MY HOPE IS THAT SINCE WE HAVE SO MANY YOU. >> TO BE A FIGHT BECAUSE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS ARE CATCHING IT EVERY WEEK. >> AND BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GETTING VACCINATED, ESPECIALLY WITH THIS NEW BOOSTER, OUR COMMUNITY IMMUNITY WILL BE SUCH THAT WE WILL LAUNCH A HUGE SEARCH. >> AND LET’S HOPE THAT’S THE CASE. NOW, IF YOU LIVE IN WAKE COUNTY, YOU CAN GO AHEAD. AND RIGHT NOW ONLINE AND SCHEDULE YOUR COVID BOOSTER.