The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended the improved COVID-19 vaccine for all Americans over the age of six months as of this Wednesday.
COVID has been updated.According to CDC Director Mandy Cohen’s recommendation, 19 shots will be available as the United States prepares for the upcoming fall and winter respiratory virus season. They appear with innovative medications for the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in neonates and the elderly.
“Receiving an updated COVID-19 vaccine can restore protection and provide enhanced protection against the variants currently responsible for most infections and hospitalizations in the United States,” according to the agency.
CVS and Walgreens, two of the country’s major pharmacies, both indicated that the injectable will be available to consumers within days.
Children aged 6 months to 4 years old need two doses of Moderna or three doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, whilst adults aged 5 and over just a single dose.
Novavax’s new non-mRNA vaccine has yet to be approved by the FDA. On Tuesday, a Novavax official notified CDC specialists that vaccination doses had been “pre-positioned” and were awaiting FDA approval.
“We have more tools than ever before to prevent the worst outcomes from COVID-19,” Cohen noted.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), individuals who had a COVID-19 immunization booster last season were better protected against illness and hospitalization. While this is positive, just 17% of the general population and 20% of adults received one.
The bivalent booster, which contained both the omicron and original strains last year, is no longer recommended since it does not give protection against the strains that are presently circulating.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises waiting two months following immunization before obtaining a booster dose. Individuals who have just been infected have the option of waiting three months or obtaining treatment “as soon as they’re feeling better,” according to CDC spokesman Megan Wallace on Tuesday.
The CDC’s outside advisory committee advocated universal immunizations over more specific risk-based recommendations on Tuesday, and the CDC agreed.
A COVID-weary community would reject a blanket recommendation, thus some have argued that a more nuanced prescription would ensure that those most at risk were vaccinated.
Others, however, contended that a standard proposal would be more equitable.
Despite the fact that the vast majority of Americans currently match the requirements for obtaining a COVID-19 immunization under a risk-based recommendation, experts cautioned that not everyone who wanted one would be able to receive one.
Most individuals should be able to obtain vaccines for free if they follow the instructions, due to their private or government-sponsored health insurance. The Biden administration no longer purchases the injections because the public health emergency that warranted the reduced price ended in May.