Oregonians 65 and older can now get an additional dose of the 2023-24 updated COVID-19 vaccine following a federal announcement that opened eligibility to older adults who are most at risk for severe outcomes of the virus.
Paul Cieslak, MD, medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations at the Oregon Health Authority, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's February 28th approval of a second dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine released last fall can provide increased protection for older adults.
Older adults are eligible to get a second COVID-19 vaccine dose if it's been at least four months since they received their first dose of the 2023-24 vaccine. People can get the vaccines by contacting their health plan, health care provider, county public health clinic, federally qualified health center or pharmacy.
Because the COVID-19 vaccine -- like the seasonal influenza vaccine -- is available on the commercial pharmaceutical market, health care and vaccine providers order it directly from vaccine manufacturers. The vaccines are available from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Novavax, and studies show all are safe and effective at protecting against serious illness from COVID-19.
Second doses of the updated vaccine have already been available to anyone 6 months and older who is moderately or severely immunocompromised. The CDC opened second dose eligibility to this group in October 2023, but the agency urges people to talk to their health care provider about whether a second dose is right for them.
While the state has seen a steady decline in COVID-19-related hospitalizations and percentage of positive tests since late December, OHA officials say the virus is still circulating briskly in Oregon communities. That's why the agency continues to recommend anyone who has not received the updated vaccine to get it as soon as they can as vaccination remains the best way for people to protect themselves.
