Kane vaccination hub to offer new COVID-19 booster shots

The Kane County Health Department will roll out new bivalent COVID-19 booster shots at an event this weekend at its vaccination hub in Batavia, officials said.

Interested individuals are asked to check for appointment availability at www.kanevax.org for the bivalent Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. Appointments will be offered from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday at the vaccination hub at 501 N. Randall Road.

The bivalent booster shot targets two versions of the coronavirus – the original strain and the omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5, officials said in a news release. The previous booster shot targeted only the original version of the virus.

Currently, Kane County has a medium level of community transmission of COVID-19 with 182 cases per 100,000 population, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Around 72.5% of the county’s population 5 years and older are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

The Pfizer bivalent booster is available to people 12 years old and older, and given at least two months after the patient received a primary vaccination series or last booster. The updated Moderna bivalent booster is authorized for people over 18 years old.

The updated bivalent boosters will replace the original formulation booster in the population 12 years old and older. Children aged 5 to 11 years old will continue to receive the original formulation booster. Children under age 5 are not eligible for a booster.

People who are moderately to severely immunocompromised should consult with their specialty provider about the timing and dosage of vaccines, officials said.

Individuals requiring assistance with appointments can call the Kane Vax line at 855-452-6382.

mejones@chicagotribune.com