Some Omaha residents already received the first doses of the new bivalent Covid-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna
OMAHA, Nebraska – Residents of Omaha started receiving some of the first doses of the bivalent COVID-19 vaccination formulae from Pfizer and Moderna just a few hours after the CDC issued its final approval to the two companies’ respective vaccines.
On Friday, Kohll’s Pharmacy at its Millard branch, which is located at 12741 Q Street, began offering doses of the Moderna bivalent COVID-19 immunization to customers.
“I’m just thrilled to be able to safeguard both myself and others. Susan Sosnowski, who was the first person to receive the new booster at the Kohl’s location, shared her experience. “I have a friend who has cancer, so there is extra duty on me to be careful around her,” she explained.
A Kohll’s pharmacist disclosed to 6 News that a total of 500 doses of Moderna had been distributed to the pharmacy chain’s locations in the Omaha metropolitan area, and that the business was in the process of centralizing the vaccinations so that they could be administered from its Q Street location. They anticipate that the supply will last them until Tuesday, which is also the day that they anticipate receiving 1,500 doses of the Pfizer bivalent vaccination. This is really a coincidence.
“We never knew when we would be getting more vaccination, but we always ended up getting it before we ran out,” said David Kohll, who works for Kohll’s Pharmacy. “We never knew when we would be getting more vaccine.”
The Douglas County Health Department anticipates receiving its own doses within the next week, and as a result, it has decided to cancel all currently scheduled COVID-19 vaccination booster appointments for those aged 12 and older. This decision will remain in effect until the department receives its own doses. There are three Pfizer bivalent booster clinics planned to take place on the following Saturdays:
- 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10 at Girls Inc., located at 2811 N. 45th St.
- 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17 at Omaha South High Magnet School, located at 4519 S. 24th St.
- 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24 at Millard North Middle School, located at 2828 S. 139th St.
According to the press release issued by the DCHD, “The new bivalent booster doses will be administered at least two months following either the conclusion of the primary COVID-19 series or the most recent COVID-19 booster dose” for patients aged 12 and older.
According to the health department’s findings, the new Moderna bivalent booster can now legally be administered to adults who are 18 years of age or older. The original monovalent booster, which will still be given to youngsters between the ages of 5 and 11 because they do not qualify for a booster, has been superseded by the Pfizer bivalent booster, which has been given the green light for administration to anyone aged 12 and older.
Due to the fact that they have a different arrangement with the federal government, a spokeswoman for the DCHD stated that they are getting their supply of vaccinations a little bit later than other pharmacies, such as Kohl’s.
According to Phil Rooney, who works for the Department of Health, “Pharmacies, because they already had contracts with the federal government, have already received their shipments in some situations.” [Citation needed]
6 News was told by a pharmacist working at the Walgreens at the intersection of 30th and Dodge streets that their store had also received supplies of the new booster on Friday morning. That Walgreens store is where the bivalent vaccination booster supplies for the Walgreens in the Omaha area were delivered. Other Walgreens pharmacies can pick up their stock from that Walgreens store. It is now possible for individuals to make appointments with them in order to receive the bivalent booster.
According to the health department’s statement, vaccinations would also be made available through primary care physicians.
