booster shot

Infectious disease experts are casting a wary eye towards the Southern Hemisphere as a worse-than-normal flu season raises the possibility of a "twindemic" this winter as both COVID-19 and influenza circulate. Cleveland area doctors are expecting a bad flu season, said University Hospitals infectious disease doctor Keith Armitage.

Council passed Mayor Dan Horrigan's proposed ordinance 9-4, creating a civilian review board and a new Office of the Inspector General which would report directly to the board; Moderna boosters targeting the new Omicron variants are in short supply, but medical experts say people shouldn't wait ... and more stories.

Ohio public health officials are urging the public — especially those who are at-risk of severe disease — to get the new COVID-19 booster that protects against the Omicron variants that are currently circulating.

The boosters target the new omicron variants and are anticipated at Northeast Ohio health departments within the next week or more; Attorney for Donovan Lewis' family is calling for police accountability and has said there was no justification for the shooting ... and more stories.

People can get the Moderna booster if they're 18 or older, and the Pfizer-BioNTech version if they're 12 and up. In both cases, they must wait at least two months since their last COVID vaccine.

In addition to being more transmissible than delta, omicron appears to evade antibodies from the first two doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

The health department clarifies who is eligible, which type of shot people should get, and when they should get them.

The drive-thru appointment-only shots will be offered through Oct. 15.

Those with specific health conditions that cause weakened immune systems are eligible to get a booster shot now, and people in the general population might soon be next in line.