A new coronavirus vaccine formulated to provide increased protection against variants currently in circulation has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
William Schaffner, MD, a professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, said the coronavirus vaccines available this fall have been updated to better match the currently circulating new coronavirus strains. He said in an interview that he is.
“The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines (both mRNA vaccines) target the KP.2 variant, while the Novavax vaccine targets the JN.1 variant, which is the predecessor to KP.2,” Schaffner said. Ta. National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. “The Novavax vaccine is a protein-adjuvanted vaccine made using a more traditional method, which may be attractive to people who are hesitant to receive an mRNA vaccine,” he explained. But all three vaccines are designed to prevent severe COVID-19 infection and reduce the chance of hospitalization, he said.
Who needs that?
“CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) continues to recommend that all people in the United States six months of age and older receive the latest coronavirus vaccine along with their influenza vaccine this fall,” Schaffner said. “
“This is not surprising, as the new coronavirus will cause a major outbreak in the winter,” he predicted. He said older people and people with chronic conditions such as heart and lung disease, diabetes and other immunocompromised conditions are among the hardest hit by the coronavirus. “The virus can infect anyone, even young and healthy people,” he said, noting that the risk of contracting COVID-19 is also long-lasting.
Schaffner said ACIP's recommendations are supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics and other professional organizations.
A frequently asked question is: Can you get the coronavirus vaccine and influenza vaccine at the same time? According to a statement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the answer is yes.
“The best time to get the vaccine is any time in late September and October to provide protection through the winter,” Schaffner said.
As with earlier versions of the COVID-19 vaccine, side effects vary from person to person. Side effects reported with the latest vaccine are similar to those seen with previous versions and include pain at the injection site, redness and swelling, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, nausea, and fever. It is possible, but most of these are short-term. To the CDC.
clinical guidance
CDC's Clinical Guidance for COVID-19 Vaccination outlines more specific guidance for vaccination based on age, vaccination history, and immunocompromised status, and will be updated as needed.
A notable difference in the latest guidance is that it recommends only one dose for adults 65 and older who are not moderately or severely immunocompromised. For people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, the CDC recommends two or three doses of the same brand of vaccine.
Schaffner urged clinicians to recommend COVID-19 vaccination to all eligible patients. He said the new coronavirus is a “troublesome virus that can cause serious illness in anyone” and that protection from previous vaccinations or previous infections is likely to have worn off. Ta.
Schaffner also encouraged health care workers and their families to lead by example. “We should all get vaccinated, and we should let our patients know that we are vaccinated and that we want all patents to be protected,” he said. .
David J. Cennimo, M.D., associate professor of medicine and pediatrics in the department, said the latest COVID-19 vaccination recommendations make it much easier for clinicians and patients, including single-dose messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines for those 5 years and older. said it became necessary. This was said in an interview with a doctor who majored in infectious diseases at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Newark, New Jersey.
“For children under 5 who are receiving their first vaccination, the recommendations are a little more complicated. Depending on the brand, two or three doses are required,” he said. “It's important to review the latest recommendations and plan your doses at the correct interval timing. Start early, considering the time between doses may be 3-4 weeks.” He advised.
One-time administration
While one dose of the latest mRNA vaccines is currently recommended, Cennimo said he could envision a scenario in which a second dose would be recommended for older people and those at high risk of severe disease later in the season. Cennimo said he strongly agrees with the recommendation that everyone six months of age and older receive the latest COVID-19 vaccine. Although older age remains the main risk factor, anyone can become infected, he said.
Cennimo said it is difficult to predict a prime time for vaccinations because no one knows when the anticipated increase in cases will occur during the winter season.
“We know from years of influenza vaccine data that some people who delay vaccination never return and receive no protection,” he said. Therefore, delaying vaccination is not recommended. Cennimo plans to get vaccinated in early October, as per past practice. “We expect that we will be able to get through the winter with the maximum effectiveness of the vaccine,” he said.
Data supports the safety and effectiveness of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines when given together, and some studies of previous versions of COVID-19 vaccines have shown that influenza and COVID-19 vaccines are Cennimo said the latest version of a similar study had not yet been done, although it had been suggested that the shots together could boost antibody responses to the coronavirus.
To speed up vaccinations, clinicians may need to overcome the barrier of coronavirus fatigue, Cennimo said. He said that while many people are saying they want it to end, SARS-CoV-2, which is an established viral respiratory infection, shows no signs of going away. Additionally, new data continues to show that there is a higher mortality rate associated with COVID-19 than influenza, he said.
“We need to explain to patients that COVID-19 is still present and still dangerous. The idea should be established and normalized.” “We now have years of safety data behind these vaccines and should strongly recommend this precaution,” he said.
According to the CDC, the COVID-19 vaccine is covered by private insurance, as well as Medicare and Medicaid. Immunizations for uninsured children are covered by the Children's Vaccines Program.
