October 14, 2022 3:20 a.m.

On Thursday, officials with the Oregon Health Authority announced that children ages 5-11 in Oregon are now eligible for the newly updated bivalent booster.

A release said OHA also gave a summary of the latest COVID-19 data and trends, and the status of the ongoing response to monkeypox in Oregon.

Dr. Dean Sidelinger, health officer and state epidemiologist at OHA said the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup met Wednesday night and affirmed the new eligibility recommendations. This followed a decision by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which expanded Emergency Use Authorization of COVID-19 boosters for children ages 5-11.

The release said the expanded EUA for the bivalent boosters for younger ages, and the state and federal recommendations for their use, means an estimated 340,000 more people in Oregon, between ages 5-11, are now eligible to receive a booster at least two months after finishing their primary series or prior monovalent booster dose.

A video recording of the full presentation is linked: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huotlh_wqMs