The Community Health Center of Buffalo, Inc. is administering the following bivalent booster shot for COVID-19 vaccination at 34 Benwood Ave., Buffalo, and 2715 Highland Ave. Niagara Falls locations:
- Pfizer-BioNTech Bivalent booster for Adults ages 12 and up.
- Pfizer-BioNTech Bivalent booster for Children ages 5 to 11.
COVID-19 vaccination shots are available from:
- 8 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday thru Saturday at 34 Benwood Ave., Buffalo, 14214
- and 8 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday thru Friday at 2715 Highland Ave., Niagara Falls, 14305.
Please call 716-986-9199 (Press 9) to schedule your appointment or just walk in!
This new booster is called “bivalent” because it protects against two different COVID-19 strains: the original and the highly contagious omicron variant.
(This recommendation follows FDA’s authorization of this product on Wed., Oct. 12, 2022.)
The single-shot bivalent booster may be administered at least two months following primary or booster vaccination.
For further information, please review the following from the CDC…
Frequently Asked Questions About Updated COVID-19 Vaccines
https://wecandothis.hhs.gov/resource/frequently-asked-questions-about-covid-19-vaccine-boosters
What are the updated vaccines?
The COVID-19 vaccines continue to work very well at preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death.
The updated vaccine now available from Pfizer-BioNTech helps protect against the Omicron variant, which is causing most new COVID infections.
Who should get an updated COVID vaccine?
Every vaccinated person should get an updated vaccine.
It’s especially important for the following people to get an updated vaccine because they are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID:
- People aged 50 and older
- Residents of long-term care settings
- People with certain underlying medical conditions
- Pregnant and recently pregnant people
When should I get an updated COVID vaccine?
No matter which COVID vaccine you got (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Novavax, Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen) for your primary vaccination series or how many boosters you’ve already gotten, you should get your updated COVID vaccine two months after your last dose.
If you recently had COVID, you should wait three months from when you got sick to get your updated vaccine.
Are the updated COVID vaccines safe?
Yes. Just like other vaccinations, your arm might feel sore after you get your shot. You might also experience flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headaches, body aches, and tiredness.
These are normal signs that your immune system is responding to the vaccine. Although these side effects may be unpleasant, you’re not actually sick. And they last a few days at most.
Serious side effects from any vaccine, including the COVID-19 vaccines, are very rare.
Where can I get an updated COVID vaccine?
At The Community Health Center of Buffalo, Inc.s’ 34 Benwood Ave., Buffalo; and 2715 Highland Ave. Niagara Falls locations
Vaccines are also available from pharmacies, doctors’ offices, community health centers, and many more locations. Most people live within 5 miles of a vaccination site.
You have three ways to find free vaccines near you:
- Go to gov
- Text your ZIP code to 438829
- Call 1-800-232-0233
Remember to bring your CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record card when you go for your updated vaccine.
When am I best protected with a COVID vaccine?
You’re best protected when you’re up to date with your COVID vaccines. That means you’ve gotten all recommended doses for people your age.
Do I need to keep wearing a mask once I get my updated vaccine?
To maximize protection from highly contagious variants and prevent possibly spreading COVID to others, both vaccinated and unvaccinated people should wear a mask inside public places when the COVID risk to your community is high.
Vaccinated and unvaccinated people must also follow federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial laws, rules, and regulations. That includes safety precautions for:
- Public transportation
- Airports and airplanes
- Local businesses
- Workplaces
Where can I find more information about COVID-19 vaccines?
For more information about COVID-19, including the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines, see our Facts About COVID-19 and the Vaccines. https://wecandothis.hhs.gov/resource/facts-about-covid-19-and-the-vaccines
