(Woodland, CA) – The Yolo County Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommends vaccination as a precaution against COVID-19 and the flu during this fall and winter season. Updated COVID-19 boosters, also known as bivalent boosters, target the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and the predominant BA.4/5 Omicron strains and are now available in Yolo County. The updated boosters provide improved protection against infection with the Omicron variant and an overall boost to protection against severe disease, which wanes over time, particularly in older adults.

Bivalent COVID-19 boosters are recommended for everyone 12 years of age and older. The Moderna bivalent booster is available for individuals 18 years of age and older, and the Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent booster for individuals 12 years of age and older. To be eligible, individuals must have received their latest COVID-19 vaccine dose at least two months prior to receiving an updated booster.

Now is also a good time for Yolo County residents to get their seasonal influenza, or flu, vaccine. Flu vaccines are recommended annually for everyone six months of age and older. The upcoming flu season is projected to be severe, making flu vaccines all the more important. Local healthcare providers and pharmacies are already offering this year’s flu shot. Yolo County HHSA will soon announce flu clinics for the fall.

The COVID-19 booster and flu vaccine can be administered at the same time, typically at different sites.

“Updated COVID-19 boosters have arrived and offer additional protection against the Omicron variants that are currently circulating,” said Yolo County Health Officer Dr. Aimee Sisson. “Flu shots are also available now and can be given at the same time as the COVID booster. Protect yourself against COVID and flu during the fall and winter by getting vaccinated now.”

COVID-19 case rates, testing positivity, hospitalizations, and wastewater levels are currently decreasing or stable in Yolo County but are anticipated to increase during the fall and winter. Decreasing coronavirus transmission has allowed Yolo County HHSA to downgrade its masking advisory to medium COVID risk (yellow), recommending high-quality masks be worn indoors, especially for persons over 50 years or with an underlying condition. One-way masking with an N95, KN95, or KF94 offers excellent protection against COVID-19, as well as flu.

For more information about COVID vaccinations in California, visit CDPH’s COVID-19 Vaccination Program Info. Vaccine clinics can be found at www.myturn.ca.gov. For more information about COVID-19 in Yolo County, visit www.yolocounty.org/covid.