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
Jackson man killed in motorcycle crash in Warren County
SUMMARY: A 48-year-old Jackson man was killed in a motorcycle crash on Highway 27 South near Country Brown Road in Warren County. The crash occurred just after 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24. The man, identified as Herman East, was ejected from his 2007 Harley Davidson after running off the road and was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of the crash is still under investigation by the Mississippi Highway Patrol.
The post Jackson man killed in motorcycle crash in Warren County appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Ridgeland man sentenced for molesting girl
SUMMARY: Ronnie Hales, a 44-year-old man from Ridgeland, pled guilty to gratification of lust by molesting his then-girlfriend's 10-year-old daughter. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison without the possibility of early release or parole and will have to register as a sex offender upon release. The abuse was reported to Ridgeland police in February 2023, leading to an investigation that included a forensic interview of the child. Evidence was found at Hales' home, and multiple state agencies collaborated to secure the conviction. District Attorney Bubba Bramlett expressed gratitude for the teamwork and hopes the child can find closure and move forward.
The post Ridgeland man sentenced for molesting girl appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Bond set for suspect charged in Rankin County homicide
SUMMARY: Two suspects charged in the shooting death of a 20-year-old man in Rankin County appeared in court. Ryan Duette was given a $500,000 bond for second degree murder. The victim, Bryson Horne, was found shot at a home in the Reservoir area, and his body was taken to the Medical Examiner's Office. Duette and Lainey Ingle turned themselves in, claiming to be involved in an altercation with the victim. Firearms were recovered from their vehicle. Horne's brother had also been shot and killed in Jackson a month earlier. The suspects are facing charges in connection with the murder.
The post Bond set for suspect charged in Rankin County homicide appeared first on www.wjtv.com
-
Mississippi News7 days ago
What this means for local schools
-
228Sports5 days ago
From Heartbreak to Hoop Dreams: Pascagoula Panthers Springboard from Semifinal Setback to College Courts
-
Mississippi News4 days ago
2 dead, 6 hurt in shooting at Memphis, Tennessee block party: police
-
Mississippi News7 days ago
Willis Miller sentenced to 45 years in prison, mandatory
-
Mississippi News4 days ago
Forest landowners can apply for federal emergency loans
-
Mississippi Today7 days ago
The unlikely Mississippi politician who could tank Medicaid expansion
-
Mississippi News6 days ago
Burnsville man arrested in Prentiss County on drug related charges
-
Mississippi News3 days ago
Cicadas expected to takeover north Mississippi counties soon