photo courtesy of Associated Press
(SEATTLE) The newer COVID booster has been approved for adults since late summer, and soon, it will be you kiddo’s turn.
The timing couldn’t be better.
While cases have plateaued in places like Whatcom County, COVID numbers are up in Skagit county.
“What we’re likely going to be seeing is COVID and Influenza at the same time,” says Doctor John Lynch at UW Medicine.
Lynch is expecting more flu this year and early next year, and a lot more COVID cases in late Fall. Those over the age of 12 will have extra armor by getting the new omicron-targeted booster, but younger kids have had to wait.
Pfizer has been seeking approval to use the new booster in younger kids, and The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said it expects approval by mid-October. That means clearance for the 5-12 year-old crowd will likely come down sometime this week, or next week at the latest.
In the meantime, Doctor Lynch says for most, getting a COVID booster and flu shot at the same time is no big deal, as most do not experience any complications. He does warn that some will experience a sore arm or headache, so it’s okay to spread out the injections by a week or two. In a video statement released by UW Medicine he says we all just get so busy, its better to take care of it all at once if you can.