vaccine

The updated COVID-19 booster shot is available at most pharmacies and the Metro Public Health Department in Nashville, though uptake has been slow due to lack of awareness and vaccine fatigue, according to area health care providers. 

Three weeks have passed since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the updated bivalent COVID-19 booster shot, effectively replacing the original booster for those ages 12 and up. The bivalent booster has two parts as compared to the original monovalent formula, one that protects against the initial COVID-19 strain and another that is specifically formulated for omicron variants including BA.5 — the most prolific strain in recent months.