With illnesses on the rise, and the holidays now here, St. Joseph County public health officials are, once again, advising residents to protect themselves against flu and COVID-19 as cases increase locally. The updated COVID-19 vaccine is available for children 6 months to 4-years-old at the St. Joseph County Department of Health. This year’s flu vaccine is also available for anyone 6 months and older.

The COVID-19 vaccine clinic, located on the 9th floor of the County City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and Saturdays, 8:30-11:00 a.m.

Flu vaccine is available Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. at our South Bend

location (227 W. Jefferson Blvd, 9th floor, South Bend) and Monday-Thursday, 8:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. and

1:00 pm-4:00 p.m. at the Mishawaka location (219 Lincolnway W, Mishawaka).

Children ages 6 months to 4 years will receive the updated COVID-19 bivalent vaccine as the 3rd dose to

complete the primary series. Children in this age range who have completed the full 3-dose primary series

are NOT eligible for a bivalent booster dose.

The updated bivalent vaccine provides protection against the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 as well as the

Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants and related subvariants that are responsible for over 90% of current

COVID-19 infections. The updated vaccine helps restore waning immunity since previous vaccination and

provides broader protection against newer variants.

This year’s flu vaccine is showing to be a good match for the flu virus that is currently circulating, according to local health leaders.

For more information on both the updated COVID-19 bivalent vaccine and flu vaccine, visit the

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention at www.cdc.gov.