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Dr. Paul Cieslak, OHA senior health advisor and medical director, Communicable Diseases and Immunizations, answered today’s questions. We’ll continue to answer your questions in upcoming newsletters.
Q: Hello! I am 51 years old, and I just had COVID-19. I am recovering after a course of Paxlovid. Is there a recommendation on how soon I can receive the new bivalent vaccine? – Sara, Aloha
A: “You can receive it as soon as you’re better and you’re at least 10 days out from the start of your illness. It also must be at least two months since receiving your most recent (monovalent) booster dose or completion of your primary series. That said, you got some immunity from your recent infection, and it would be fine to wait 90 days.”
Q: Is the protective Evusheld available in the United States? This was sent to me from a friend in Munich. – Catherine, Eugene
A: “Yes. Evusheld is authorized in the U.S. for prevention of COVID-19 in immunocompromised individuals and in individuals for whom COVID-19 vaccination is not recommended due to a history of severe adverse reaction. It may be administered every six months. Be aware, though, that Evusheld may have reduced effectiveness against many of the newer COVID-19 subvariants that are circulating. Patients receiving Evusheld should have a treatment plan in place and quickly seek medical attention if COVID-19 symptoms occur.
There is currently ample supply of Evusheld in Oregon, and every eligible patient should have access to it. You can search for locations near you that carry Evusheld using this federal locator tool, then your health care provider can call to confirm and prescribe.”
Q: I live in Clatsop County and was told that Novavax has NOT been approved in Oregon as a booster. Please clarify because I would very much like to get it as a booster. – Sharon, Gearhart
A: “On Oct. 19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized for emergency use the Novavax vaccine to be used as a single-dose booster in limited situations, and Oregon endorsed this authorization. To qualify for this booster, however, you must be 18 or older and have completed a primary series of either Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax or Johnson & Johnson vaccines, with no boosters. If you received any boosters previously, you do not qualify for the Novavax booster. Also, one must wait six months after completing their primary series before receiving a Novavax booster, and they also must be unwilling or unable to receive the updated mRNA booster from Moderna or Pfizer.”
If you have questions about topics related to COVID-19, submit your question here. While we are unable to answer every question, we try to address questions that may be of interest to a broader audience. Please understand we are unable to provide specific medical advice for personal medical conditions.
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