Protect yourself and loved ones with the COVID-19 booster and flu vaccination

Health experts are bracing for the prospect of a “tri-demic” this winter—COVID-19, flu and rising respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases. The best way to defend against a winter wave of infections? Get your updated (bivalent) COVID-19 booster and flu vaccination as soon as you are eligible. Both are available at NorthShore and Swedish facilities, with select locations offering patients the option of getting these vaccinations at the same time.

Single-dose bivalent (“Omicron”) COVID-19 boosters from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna are approved and recommended by the CDC patients as young as 5-years-old. These updated COVID-19 boosters are designed to target the original variant as well as the newer dominant BA.4 and BA.5 omicron subvariants, which continue to cause tens of thousands of infections and hundreds of deaths every day in the United States.

At our Evanston, Northbrook and Lake Bluff clinics, schedule for either a flu or COVID-19 vaccination and get the other upon request at the time of your appointment. Scheduling is fast & easy!

1. Schedule through the NorthShoreConnect patient portal. 
2. For assistance scheduling at a NorthShore clinic call 847.982.5000. For assistance scheduling at Swedish call 773.878.6888.
3. For COVID-19 boosters, walk in to Swedish Hospital (2740 W Foster Ave Suite 114 Chicago IL 60625, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

NorthShore recommends all those eligible get a COVID-19 bivalent booster at any community/retail access point that is convenient to them.

Parents or legal guardians must accompany minors (those aged 17 and under) and provide written consents for vaccine(s) to be administered. Please bring your ID, COVID-19 vaccination card, and insurance information with you at the time of your vaccination.

4 Things to Know about the COVID-19 Bivalent Booster

Am I eligible for this booster?

The CDC recommends the updated Pfizer-BioNTech booster for individuals 5  and older and the Moderna booster for those who are 6 and older. . Anyone who has received the two-shot primary mRNA or Novavax series or the single-shot Johnson & Johnson—regardless of whether they received any or all of the recommended booster shots—is eligible to receive the bivalent booster. Kids younger than 5 are not yet approved for the bivalent booster.

When should I get this booster?

Anyone who has completed their primary vaccination or received the most recent booster dose two or more months ago can get an updated booster now. Once received, it takes two weeks to be effective.

Can I get this booster at the same time I get my annual flu shot?

Yes! In fact, many of our COVID-19 vaccine clinics will also carry flu shots, making it convenient to receive your flu shot at the same time you receive your booster.

Will I still have access to the original COVID booster?

With the approval of the bivalent booster, the monovalent booster is no longer recommended for individuals 5 and up.