Mississippi News
New COVID-19 booster shot available in Mississippi
New COVID-19 booster shots available in Mississippi
The Mississippi State Department of Health announced on Tuesday that appointments for the new bivalent COVID-19 booster shot are now available at all county health department clinics.
The Food and Drug Administration approved the new booster formulation on Aug. 31, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention followed suit the next day. The release of the boosters is the largest part of government efforts to get ahead of a potential seasonal surge in infections.
“We strongly recommend that anyone eligible should go ahead and receive the updated booster now to provide the best protection against COVID-19 infection and severe complications from COVID-19,” State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers said in a press release. “There is always the possibility of increased cases as we move into the fall and winter months. Don't wait to protect yourself.”
The new booster shot is a bivalent vaccine, which means that it targets two versions of COVID-19. While the original booster shot only targeted the original strain of the virus, the new booster also targets the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants.
Mississippians who want to get the new booster can make appointments through the website or by calling the health department's COVID-19 hotline at 877-978-6453.
People aged 12 and older who have been fully vaccinated are eligible for the new booster, regardless of whether they received other booster doses. A person can only receive the new booster at least two months out from their last shot.
If you've recently had COVID-19, you can receive a booster as soon as your isolation period ends. However, the CDC says you may consider delaying any additional shots by three months from when your symptoms started or you received a positive test. The reasoning behind this optional delay is that someone who has just recovered from COVID-19 will likely already have a high level of antibodies, which could cause the effects of additional shots to be reduced.
Children between the ages of 5 and 11 are only eligible for the original booster shot, though the FDA is working on making the new booster available for this age group.
This is the first COVID-19 vaccine released to the public before data from human trials had been analyzed. The Biden Administration has compared the new booster to the annual flu shot, which is reformulated each year to target the latest versions of influenza and tested on animals before being released to the public.
An average of 832 cases per day are currently being reported across the state. However, the true infection rate is unknown because of the increased availability and utilization of at-home tests, which are not reported to the health department. The rate of cases, hospitalizations and deaths plummeted across the state after the peak of the omicron wave in January, but have been steadily increasing again since May.
Mississippi remains one of the least vaccinated states in America. As of Sept. 8, 61% of the state's population had received one dose, 53% were fully vaccinated and 21% had received a booster shot, according to CDC data.
The state has reported 918,874 total cases, meaning that since the beginning of the pandemic, at least one-third of Mississippians have been infected with COVID-19. 12,821 Mississippians have died from the virus.
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
1 injured in officer-involved shooting at Ridgeland apartment complex
SUMMARY: Authorities are investigating an officer-involved shooting at a Ridgeland apartment complex that left one person injured. The incident occurred at Ridgeland Place Apartments and involved a suspect firing shots at officers before being injured and taken to the hospital. The officers were responding to a call for service, and no serious injuries were reported among them. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is looking into the incident and will share their findings with the Mississippi Attorney General's Office.
The post 1 injured in officer-involved shooting at Ridgeland apartment complex appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
WPPD needs help locating ATV purchased with fraudulent means
SUMMARY: The West Point Police Department is seeking help from the community to locate a black 2024 Can-Am ATV that was purchased fraudulently from Adventure ATV. The whereabouts of this ATV are unknown, and anyone with information is urged to contact the West Point Police Department at (662)494-1244. The individuals in the photos provided are not considered suspects in the investigation. For more news and updates, follow the West Point Police Department on Facebook.
The post WPPD needs help locating ATV purchased with fraudulent means appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
28th annual Market Street Festival underway in Columbus
SUMMARY: The Market Street Festival in Columbus, Mississippi featured vendors selling a variety of products, from pottery to jewelry. Attendees expressed their love for the event, citing the opportunity to see unique items and connect with friends. The festival also showcased the work of local artists, such as Rose Harrison who specializes in acrylic painting and abstract artwork. Overall, the festival was described as a fun and vibrant place to be, with something for everyone to enjoy. This year marked the 28th annual Market Street Festival, demonstrating its popularity and success in bringing the community together.
The post 28th annual Market Street Festival underway in Columbus appeared first on www.wcbi.com
-
SuperTalk FM3 days ago
Driver’s education set to become mandatory in Mississippi as bill passes
-
SuperTalk FM6 days ago
Festival merger in Leland sets up one major event for Mississippi Delta
-
SuperTalk FM2 days ago
State approves $160M to expand Highway 7 to four lanes in Lafayette County
-
Mississippi Business4 days ago
Geartek expanding operations in Alcorn County
-
SuperTalk FM6 days ago
PERS bill set to phase in employer rate increase heads to governor’s desk
-
Mississippi News5 days ago
Two women accused of shoplifting across southeast captured in Mississippi
-
Mississippi News3 days ago
Altercation at Mississippi police department leads to officer-involved shooting
-
Mississippi Today6 days ago
Podcast: The contentious final days of the 2024 legislative session