You will soon be able to get a newly updated COVID-19 vaccine dose. The Food and Drug Administration just approved new versions of the boosters that are designed to better protect against coronavirus variants circulating now.
With COVID-19 wastewater levels high and hospitalizations increasing right as kids head back to school, the new shot can help provide more protection at a crucial time, experts tell TODAY.com.
Pharmacies are expected to start offering the shots in the coming days, NBC News reports.
“We’re in a we’re in a significant summer surge right now,” Dr. Natalie Azar, NBC medical contributor, said during a Aug. 22 segment on the TODAY show. More than 40 states are reporting high or very levels of COVID-19 in wastewater, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
That surge is largely fueled by the emergence of new highly transmissible variants, particularly FLiRT strains like KP.3 and its relative, KP.3.1.1.
While the last updated vaccines did provide some protection against strains like those, the new variants are different enough that an updated booster is warranted, Dr. Bernard Camins, medical director for infection prevention at the Mount Sinai Health System, tells TODAY.com.
“Vaccination continues to be the cornerstone of COVID-19 prevention,” Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in a press release announcing the approval.
“Given waning immunity of the population from previous exposure to the virus and from prior vaccination, we strongly encourage those who are eligible to consider receiving an updated COVID-19 vaccine to provide better protection against currently circulating variants,” the statement continued.
But this particular dose is becoming available earlier in the season than boosters have been in the past, Camins says, which makes it tough to know when to get it for the most protection.
Which variants will the new booster protect against?
All the new vaccines will be designed to provide better protection against more recent strains, particularly the JN.1 strain that was responsible for the massive surge earlier this year. If possible, the FDA advised drugmakers to target the KP.2 variant, which is a descendent of JN.1, for the fall shots.
The updated doses from Pfizer and Moderna will target KP.2 while the third option, from Novavax, will target JN.1, NBC News reports.
KP.2 is one of the FLiRT variants that took over during the summer, as TODAY.com explained previously. The most recent estimates show that variant KP.3.1.1 is now lead, causing about 37% of cases in the U.S. Meanwhile, KP.3 is responsible for about 17% and KP.2.3 is causing a little more than 14% of cases.
Another variant, LB.1, is also responsibly for about 14% of COVID-19 cases right now. This is another descendent of JN.1.
However, JN.1 itself has dropped off considerably and is now responsible for just 0.2% of cases, according to estimates from the CDC.
Who should get the new COVID booster?
Back in June, the CDC recommended that anyone 6 months and older receive an updated COVID-19 shot as well as a flu vaccine this year, Azar said. Older adults should also consider getting the new RSV vaccine this fall, Camins says, which was approved just last year.
People who are in more vulnerable groups “definitely want to be getting in line to get the (new COVID booster),” Azar added. That includes people ages 65 and older, those with weakened immune systems and those with certain underlying health conditions that put them at a higher risk for severe COVID-19 complications.
For those who can’t get the vaccine yet but remain at a higher risk for COVID-related complications amid the current surge, Camins recommends falling back on the strategies we’ve used previously. That includes wearing a high-quality mask when in crowded, indoor settings and avoiding those settings when possible.
People in this group should also keep Paxlovid in mind in the event of a COVID-19 infection, Camins says.
Immunocompromised folks, for whom a vaccine dose may not provide as much protection, can also ask their doctor about a monoclonal antibody treatment, Camins says. The FDA gave the drug, Pemgarda, emergency use authorization in March of this year. It may help protect against COVID-19 infections in this population, Camins says.
When should you get the COVID booster?
If approved this week, this vaccine will be approved earlier in the season than others in the past. Last year’s fall booster was approved in mid-September 2023 and protected against XBB coronavirus strains, for example. But experts are predicting yet another wave to occur later in the year, as we’ve seen every winter with COVID-19.
We know that the protection from the vaccines is greatest in the first few weeks after getting the shot and then wanes over the next three months, so getting it as soon as it’s available may mean you’re not as protected from a later winter surge, the experts say.
That makes it challenging to perfectly time your updated dose. Here are some things to consider to help guide your decision.
Are you high risk for severe COVID?
High-risk folks, including older adults, should consider getting the new dose as soon as it’s available because the virus is still circulating at high levels in many areas of the country, the experts say.
Keep in mind that people in those categories may be eligible for another vaccine dose later in the winter season when the protection from this one wanes, Camins says. That’s what happened this past February when the CDC recommended another dose for older adults amid a major post-holiday surge. But, Camins adds, we don’t know for sure if that will happen this year too.
People who are at a lower risk for COVID-19 may have a particularly tricky time deciding when to get the updated shot, Azar said.
Those folks likely won’t be eligible for a dose later in the winter, but protection from the vaccines begins to wane after about 90 to 120 days, Camins explains. That’s why, “if you’re low to moderate risk, you might actually want to wait a couple of months so that you’re protected when the inevitable winter surge happens,” Azar said.
Do you have a child going to school?
Children going to school should also get the vaccine as soon as it’s available, especially high-risk children, to reduce their risk of being infected in the classroom and bringing it home, Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, previously told TODAY.com.
Any upcoming situations where you’re more likely to be infected?
Keep high-risk situations in mind to help plan your dose, says Camins, who is planning to get the vaccine before traveling next month. Think about timing your vaccination so you’re protected during any major trips you have planned, for example, or high-risk events, like large indoor weddings.
Were you recently infected with COVID?
If you’ve had a COVID-19 infection during this summer wave, that’s another reason to consider delaying your next dose. People who’ve had a recent COVID-19 infection should aim to stay up-to-date with vaccines, the CDC says, but they “may consider delaying” their shot by three months.
“We know that a lot of people got infected over the summer,” Azar said. “In that case, you might actually want to wait about three to four months before getting (the updated booster).”
A COVID-19 infection will leave you with some protection from currently circulating strains, as TODAY.com explained previously. But protection after an infection is typically not as persistent as that from a vaccine, so you should still get the updated dose at some point.
Common COVID booster side effects
The exact side effects of a COVID-19 vaccine or booster will vary from person to person.
In general, the CDC says people may experience:
These side effects are typically temporary and mild, but may still interfere with your ability to go about your usual tasks for a day or two.
For more severe arm pain, you can try taking an over-the-counter pain reliever after your vaccination, gently stretching and using your arm or using a cool or warm compress, the CDC says. Do not take a pain reliever before getting the shot, as this can affect the immune response, according to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. And, of course, it’s important to get rest and stay hydrated as your body deals with the side effects.
If you can, plan to take it easy the day after your vaccine.
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
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