Covid-19 infection has led to more than a million deaths among Americans and more than 6 million hospitalizations over the past four years, according to CDC data.
The good news is that new and updated Covid-19 vaccines can now be obtained at many pharmacies across the country. The two mRNA vaccines that are available lately are from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, and a third, the protein-based Novavax. The vaccine obtained emergency use authorization from the FDA on Tuesday.
The updated vaccines are monovalent, unlike the bivalent booster received last year. Last year’s booster provided coverage against two strains of the virus, the original strain isolated from Wuhan, China, in 2019, as well as Omicron Subvariants BA. 4 and BA. 5. The updated vaccine targets one strain, Omicron XBB. 1. 5.
Although XBB. 1. 5 is not the dominant strain causing infections in the United States, the strains that are (EG. 5 and FL. 1. 5. 1) are still genetically similar to XBB. 1. 5. The updated vaccine will be effective in providing coverage, unlike the dominant strains lately in the United States, according to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
A highly mutant strain known as BA. 2. 86 is genetically distinct from Omicron XBB. 1. 5. However, according to the CDC, the updated monovalent vaccine will still be effective in reducing severe illness and hospitalizations unlike BA. 2. 86.
According to the CDC, vaccination remains the most effective way to protect against hospitalizations, severe illness, and death from Covid-19. Therefore, CDC recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older receive the updated monovalent vaccine. Underlying diseases such as lung disease and diabetes and those whose immune system may be compromised, such as those receiving chemotherapy or steroids, do not delay vaccination.
The side effects of the current vaccine are no different than those of previous Covid-19 vaccines. They are mild and present with muscle aches, pain and swelling at the vaccination site, fatigue and, probably, swollen lymph nodes.
Those who have recently been tested for Covid-19 or have recently been infected with Covid-19 wait 3 months before getting vaccinated, according to the CDC. People are much less likely to become inflamed again immediately after a Covid-19 infection.
Those who recently received the Covid-19 vaccine wait two months before receiving the new vaccine to maximize immunity and antibody production against the strains targeted by the new vaccine.
It is safe to receive the Covid-19 vaccine and the flu vaccine at the same time. The immune reaction generated through each of the vaccines remains unchanged, whether they are administered or at the same time, according to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
The RSV vaccine can also be administered at the same time as the updated Covid-19 vaccine; No studies have evaluated the effectiveness of the immune reaction when the two vaccines are given together. The RSV vaccine is not recommended for everyone; Only other people at risk for serious infection, adults over age 60, pregnant women in the third trimester, and young children.
The new vaccine is available for free to Americans with personal insurance plans or those on Medicare and Medicaid, and is expected to be available at local pharmacies and fitness clinics. The 25 million uninsured Americans can still get the vaccine for free through the Bridge Access Program until at least the end of December 2024.