North Carolina health officials urge residents to get updated COVID-19 vaccine

Health officials are encouraging North Carolinians to get an updated COVID-19 vaccine this fall along with their annual flu shot. 

The vaccine could be available by the end of this week, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Officials note the vaccine is arriving just as North Carolina is seeing an uptick in infections. It is recommended for everyone 6 months and older.

State epidemiologist Zack Moore released a statement saying that COVID-19 continues to be a “real risk” for many people, and he says vaccination is especially important for those at higher risk of complications, including people 65 and older, children under 5, pregnant women, and those with certain medical conditions.

His sentiments were echoed by the former head of NCDHHS, Mandy Cohen, who is now the director of the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.

In an editorial for The New York Times this week, Cohen notes that COVID-19 has evolved, and that the updated vaccine is “better matched for the currently circulating virus.”

Most health insurance plans will cover the booster shot at no cost. The state is offering a Vaccines For Children program, and will receive a limited supply of free vaccines for uninsured and underinsured adults.