Penn State Now Offering New Moderna COVID-19 Booster

Penn State’s on-campus health center is now administering Moderna’s latest COVID-19 booster, the university said on Monday.

Students can sign up online to book a booster shot appointment at University Health Services. Appointments are available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays.

Before arriving, students should bring their Penn State ID and make sure their health insurance information is uploaded to their online health center account.

Moderna’s bivalent booster protects against both the original COVID-19 virus and its newer Omicron strand, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The shot is available to those 18 and older who last received a COVID-19 vaccine at least two months ago, although those who recently contracted COVID-19 are encouraged to wait at least three months from their infection period.

“Getting a booster vaccine adds protection against COVID-19, especially protecting against more severe illness,” Rebecca Simcik, UHS’s medical director, said in a statement. “COVID-19 is not going away anytime soon, but we can all live with it more safely if we stay up to date on vaccines, including boosters.”

In a statement, Penn State said it encourages students to stay up to date on their COVID-19 shots. However, the university does not require those vaccinations.

Those who have not received initial COVID-19 vaccines can book appointments online as well. UHS offers first and second vaccine doses from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Wednesday.

For more information on UHS’s COVID-19 vaccination services, visit the center’s website.