Four vaccines are authorized for emergency use and approved for usage by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The COVID-19 bivalent booster is an updated booster that targets the Omicron variant.The FDA authorized bivalent formulations of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for use as a single booster dose.

 The four COVID-19 vaccines that have been authorized in the United States are:

• Pfizer-BioNTech
• Moderna
• Novavax
• Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen (J&J/Janssen) (CDC recommends that the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine only be considered in certain situations, due to safety concerns.)

For more information about vaccine distribution in North Carolina, including when you might be eligible to receive a vaccine and how to find a vaccine location, click here. For information you should know about the vaccine, click here.

You can also visit covid.gov for information on testing, vaccines, treatment, and more. 

Bivalent Boosters:

The FDA authorized new booster vaccines known as “bivalent” boosters that specifically target the Omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5.

Two COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers, Pfizer and Moderna, have developed bivalent COVID-19 boosters. 

According to the CDC, the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent is authorized for use as a single booster dose in children 6 months through 5 years of age at least two months after completion of a primary series with the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine. It is also authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 6 years of age and older at least two months after completion of either primary vaccination with any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine, or receipt of the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 5 years of age and older at least two months after completion of either primary vaccination with any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine or receipt of the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.

The virus that causes COVID-19 has changed over time. The different versions of the virus that have developed over time are called variants. Learn more about variants of the COVID-19 virus.

Reminders:

• Getting a COVID-19 vaccine after you have recovered from COVID-19 infection provides added protection against COVID-19.
• People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised have different recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines.
• COVID-19 vaccine and booster recommendations may be updated as CDC continues to monitor the latest COVID-19 data.
• Everyone ages 6 months and older is eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
• You cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccines.
• The vaccines are free to everyone, even if you don’t have health insurance and regardless of your immigration status.

COVID-19 testing is available at numerous locations throughout Wake County. Click here to find a location near you. Testing is free, and many locations do not require that you make an appointment.

Get No-Cost At-Home Tests Mailed to Your Home: Every U.S. household is eligible to order four free at-home COVID-?19 tests. Request your tests here.

Protect Yourself and Others

According to the CDC, you can resume normal activities without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart if you are fully vaccinated. In addition to getting the vaccine, there are simple steps you can take to reduce your chances of catching COVID-19 and spreading the virus to others. To minimize your chances of getting sick, you can:

• Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth to help protect yourself and others if you are not vaccinated;

• Stay 6 feet apart from others who don’t live with you if you are not vaccinated;

• Stay home if you are ill;

• Avoid crowds;

• Avoid poorly ventilated indoor spaces; and

• Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t available.

For additional information about Omicron, Delta, and other variants of COVID-19, click here.

Symptoms of COVID-19 can appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms, which range from mild to severe, can include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headaches, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, and more.

Regardless of vaccination status, you should isolate yourself from others when you have COVID-19. You should also isolate yourself if you are sick and suspect that you have COVID-19 but do not yet have test results. If your results are positive, follow the CDC’s full isolation recommendations. If your results are negative, you can end your isolation.

In March 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan into law, delivering urgently needed relief to North Carolinians. Prior to the American Rescue Plan, Congress passed other relief packages – including the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in March 2020 and additional relief legislation in December 2020. Below is more information about key provisions in the American Rescue Plan and resources available to you.

• Fact sheet on the American Rescue Plan
• Resources for you in the American Rescue Plan

Economic Impact Payments

Congress passed three bills to send direct Economic Impact Payments (stimulus checks) to Americans. The CARES Act, enacted in March of 2020, provided payments of up to $1,200 to adults and up to $500 per dependent child under 17. The COVID-19 relief package, enacted in December of 2020, provided payments of up to $600 to adults and dependent children under 17. The American Rescue Plan, enacted in March 2021, provided payments of up to $1,400 to eligible adults and all dependents. Most people should have received their payments automatically via direct deposit.

If you have questions about your stimulus check, you can find answers here.

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness

In March 2020, the CARES Act established the Paycheck Protection Program, which provided forgivable loans to small businesses to keep employees on payroll and cover basic costs. The American Rescue Plan included additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program, which ended on May 31, 2021. However, you may qualify for PPP loan forgiveness. Click here to see if you are eligible and here to learn more about the PPP.

Earned Income Tax Credit

The American Rescue Plan expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a tax credit for low- and middle-income families and workers that can be used to reduce taxes owed to the IRS. You can track your refund here.

Direct Relief for North Carolina

• North Carolina’s Second District has seen direct funding from the American Rescue Plan.
• Local colleges, universities, and students in the Second District received more than $104 million in emergency funding from the American Rescue Plan to help local institutions cope with the severe financial fallout from the pandemic and continue serving their students safely.
• The Wake County Bus Rapid Transit project on New Bern Avenue received an allocation of $5.4 million in American Rescue Plan funds as a part of the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grants Program.
• The Raleigh-Durham International Airport received nearly $50.7 million in American Rescue Plan funding to aid the airport in its economic recovery from the pandemic. This is in addition to the $49.5 million it received through the CARES Act in 2020. 
• Venues in the Second District received nearly $15 million through the SBA’s Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program. Click here to read how these funds helped North Carolina venues.