Friday, September 16, 2022
NEW: Epidemiology Data and Notes
NEW: Denver Health Bivalent Vaccine Booster Information
NEW: Bivalent Vaccine Booster FAQ
What You Need to Know
NEW: Epidemiology Data and Notes
As of 6:30 AM Denver Health has 2 COVID-19 Patients, 2 are on the Floor, 0 in the ICU, and 0 on ventilators.
NEW: Denver Health Bivalent Vaccine Booster Information
Denver Health is now offering the Bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, a booster that is designed to cover currently circulating coronavirus variants and has replaced the original univalent vaccines for booster doses only.
ACS clinics have the Pfizer vaccine, but Moderna is available through the Public Health Institute at Denver Health Immunization Clinic (when requested). While supplies are currently limited, we expect them to grow in the coming weeks.
Denver Health is focused on providing booster doses to our patients.
Employees that receive care at Denver Health can look at their MyChart account to schedule a vaccination. Slots will continue to open as more vaccine becomes available. Other employees interested in receiving a booster are encouraged to look within the community to get their vaccination.
** Employees are encouraged, but not required to get boosters.
NEW: Bivalent Booster FAQ
What makes the new approved boosters different from the original vaccine?
The bivalent vaccines contain two messenger RNA (mRNA) components of SARS-CoV-2 virus, one of the original strain and the other based on the BA.4 and BA.5 lineages of the omicron variant .
The BA.4 and BA.5 lineages of the omicron variant are currently causing most cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and are predicted to circulate this fall and winter.
Who is eligible for a Bivalent Booster?
Adolescents and adults who have completed a primary vaccine series are eligible. The bivalent vaccine is not approved for initial doses in people who are unvaccinated.
The Moderna Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 18 years of age and older.
The Pfizer-BioNTech Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 12 years of age and older.
When can I get it?
Individuals can receive the bivalent booster two months after their last COVID-19 vaccine (regardless of whether the last dose was a booster or completion of a primary series)
For those who have recently recovered from a Covid-19 infection, the CDC recommends waiting at least until the illness has passed and a person is no longer contagious. For best results, it may be better to delay a booster for up to three months after symptoms started. Infection will already boost immunity; studies have shown that people have a relatively low risk of getting sick again for three months after they recover.
What about children 5 through 11, what should they do?
Children ages 5 through 11 can still be boosted with the original monovalent vaccines.
Will Denver Health Offer COVID-19 Boosters as part of the Flu Vaccine Campaign or as a separate Mass COVID-19 Vaccination Event for Employees?
COVID-19 immunizations will not be offered at the employee flu vaccination events due to limited vaccine supplies and staffing capacity.
Denver Health does not plan to do a mass COVID-19 employee vaccination event surrounding boosters.
The Public Health Emergency Taskforce will re-evaluate this as needed based on the future vaccine supply, staffing capacity, and employee needs.
Where can I get a booster if I don’t get my care at Denver Health?
Community Vaccine Sites hosted by the State can be found here.
Local pharmacies continue to have walk-in availability.
Contact your primary care physician for availability.
Is the booster required for employment at Denver Health?
No – boosters are not mandated for Denver Health employees. However, they are highly encouraged.
What does the initial data tell us about protection from the Bivalent vaccine?
Based on the data supporting each of these authorizations, the bivalent COVID-19 vaccines are expected to provide increased protection against the currently circulating omicron variant.
Only roughly half of those who have received the primary series of Covid vaccines have gotten a booster dose, according to the CDC.
Individuals who receive a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine may experience side effects commonly reported by individuals who receive the monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
Denver Health COVID-19 Resources: