COVID-19 Boosters Available Across the County

​Mecklenburg County Public Health is offering the new COVID-19 vaccine boosters at its clinic locations. The new booster is also widely available throughout the County through healthcare providers and pharmacies.  

As we head into the fall season, these new COVID-19 boosters, enhanced to protect against severe illness due to the variants currently circulating, will lower the impact this virus has on our community,” said Dr. Raynard Washington, director of Mecklenburg County Public Health. 

 The new boosters are formulated to give better protection against the COVID-19 strains we are seeing in our communities. The new Pfizer and Moderna vaccines’ “bivalent” formulas (which contain mRNA parts of the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants in addition to mRNA parts from the original strain of the coronavirus) are given as a single booster dose at least 2 months after the last dose of the primary vaccine series or booster dose for individuals ages 12 years and older (for Pfizer) and individuals ages 18 years and older (for Moderna).  

The original Pfizer and Moderna vaccines’ “monovalent” formulas (which contain mRNA parts of only the original strain of the coronavirus) are no longer given as booster doses for individuals 12 years of age and older.  

 The original monovalent Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will continue to be given as the primary series vaccines for individuals ages 6 months and older and as booster doses for individuals 5 through 11 years of age at least 5 months after the last dose of the primary series. 

How to get your booster through Public Health: 

Make an appointment for the booster dose or primary series of a COVID-19 vaccine online or call 980-314-9400, option 3 (English) or option 8 (Spanish). You may also walk in to either location during business hours: 

  • Northwest Health Department: 2845 Beatties Ford Road 

  • Southeast Health Department: 249 Billingsley Road 

 
Clinic Hours 

  • Monday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

  • Tuesday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

  • Wednesday 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. 

  • Thursday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

  • Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

 
How about the flu shot? 

Consider getting a flu shot at the same time; just ask when you arrive for your COVID-19 vaccine appointment. Based on CDC guidance, the COVID-19 vaccines can be given the same day as other vaccines, including the flu vaccine. Some people choose to get each shot in a different arm to minimize possible discomfort. 

 The best time to get your flu shot is in September or October before the flu is spreading in our community. This is also the time of year when we are returning to school, staying indoors out of the cold, and traveling and gathering for the holidays, all of which increase our risk of exposure to both flu and COVID-19. Vaccines greatly reduce your chances of severe illness, hospitalization, and death.