Updated COVID Vaccines Advised by CDC to Address Emergent Variants
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, aiming to provide protection against the current circulating variants, including the Omicron XBB.1.5 and the Eris subvariant.
These updated vaccines are designed to more closely target the variants that are currently causing the majority of infections in the U.S. Moderna's updated vaccine generates an immune response against Eris and another dominant variant in the U.S., in addition to XBB.1.5. Pfizer and Novavax, whose vaccine is under FDA review, also indicate that their vaccines are likely to work against Eris and other circulating strains, in addition to XBB.1.5.
The updated vaccines are approved for people 12 years and older. Those on Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance will receive the vaccines for free. The federal government is no longer making the vaccines free to all Americans, but many will still have access to them at no cost. The uninsured and underinsured, as well as children from low-income families, may be able to get vaccines at no cost through government programs.
The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine. However, the increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations is fueled, in part, by Omicron subvariants such as EG.5 (Eris) and BA.2.86 (Pirola). As of Sept. 2, the Eris subvariant accounts for an estimated 21.5% of all cases.
The rate of vaccination was better among those 65 years and older, at around 43%. The CDC no longer issues a universal recommendation for annual COVID-19 vaccination starting at six months of age; instead, vaccination for children under 6 months is not excluded but is suggested to be done based on shared decision-making between patients (or parents) and healthcare providers to weigh risks and benefits.
The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, which targets the XBB.1.5 variant, uses a protein-based technology that has been used in hepatitis B and whooping cough vaccines. The new vaccines should be available before the respiratory season is in full swing, providing protection during this fall and winter, provided no significantly different variant emerges.
As of May 2023, only around 18% of Americans eligible for the bivalent vaccine received one, according to the CDC. The updated vaccines are available for individuals seeking protection amidst rising COVID cases. It is recommended that those eligible consider getting vaccinated to help reduce the spread of the virus and protect themselves and others.
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