August 23, 2024 – Not to say, it's still humid here and the beginning of fall remains to be a month away. It's time to take into consideration protecting yourself from fall viruses, the CDC and FDA said this week.
This means planning to get vaccinated against COVID-19, influenza, and for some, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Recent developments include:
- On Thursday, the FDA granted emergency use authorization for updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer.
- At a CDC briefing on Friday, Director Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH, said, “Make a plan now to receive your updated vaccine.” [for COVID and flu] in September or October, ahead of the expected surge in each viruses this winter.”
- Officials also announced the return of free at-home COVID testing, with that program set to resume in late September.
- To increase acceptance of the vaccines, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched a public education campaign called “Risk Less, Do More.”
- For those that fear the unwanted effects of vaccinations, a brand new study from Stanford University has found that a positive attitude before vaccination can actually reduce unwanted effects and boost immunity.
How bad will the respiratory virus season be this winter? The CDC expects this respiratory virus season to be similar or less severe in comparison with last yr, Cohen said. But there are a lot of assumptions that go into that forecast, she added.
COVID-19 Approvals
The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines updated this season are monovalent vaccines that concentrate on the Omicron variant KP.2 strain of the coronavirus, the FDA said. These vaccines have been updated to more specifically goal the variants currently circulating.
Previously, in June, the FDA really helpful that vaccine manufacturers produce vaccines against JN.1; As additional information became available, the agency told manufacturers that the KP.2 strain was the popular goal. The KP.2 variant is a descendant of the JN.1 variant and can be called the FLiRT variant.
When asked in regards to the Novavax COVID vaccine not receiving an updated approval, Peter Marks, MD, PhD, director of the FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said, “We can't talk about a pending application.”
Who needs which vaccines?
Everyone 6 months and older needs an updated flu and updated COVID vaccine, Cohen said.
The variety of COVID vaccine doses is dependent upon age and variety of doses previously received:
- If they will not be vaccinated, children ages 6 months to 4 years can receive three doses of the Pfizer vaccine or two doses of the Moderna vaccine.
- Those who were vaccinated 6 months to 4 years ago may receive one or two doses of the updated Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, with timing and number depending on the previous vaccination received.
- These 5- to 11-year-olds can receive a single dose of Pfizer or Moderna no matter prior vaccination. The updated dose ought to be administered a minimum of 2 months after the last dose of a COVID vaccine.
- People 12 and older can receive a single dose of each vaccines, two months apart because the last dose of any COVID vaccine.
The recommendations for the RSV vaccine have been simplified, said Cohen. Last yr, the CDC said all adults 60 and older could get the vaccine after consulting with their doctor. Vaccination is now really helpful for all adults aged 75 and over, initially a single vaccination. Vaccination can be really helpful for those aged 60 to 74 who’re at increased risk because of underlying illnesses.
Those who received the vaccine last yr don’t have to get it this yr; it is just not an annual vaccination.
RSV vaccination for moms can be really helpful at 32 to 36 weeks of pregnancy to guard babies.
Free return of home tests
Starting in late September, you’ll give you the option to order as much as 4 free at-home COVID tests online (Covidtests.gov), said Dawn O'Connell, assistant secretary for preparedness and response on the Department of Health and Human Services.
The tests would give you the option to detect currently circulating COVID strains, she said.
“Risk less, do more”
A brand new public health campaign goals to extend vaccine acceptance, said Jeff Nesbit, assistant secretary for public affairs at HHS.
Entitled “Risk Less, Do More,” it promotes the advantages of vaccinations in helping people stay healthy and work, socialize and share with family. The messages are delivered through television, radio, print media, social media and digital platforms.
The essential goal group is older adults with the next risk of viral infections.
Dealing with restraint
In May, only 22.5% of adults received the newest version updated COVID vaccine, in response to CDC.
“In general, people are more receptive to the flu vaccine [than the COVID vaccine]“said Dr. Teresa L. Lovins, a family physician in Columbus, IN, and board member of the American Academy of Family Physicians.
The less severe infections played a role, she said. “I've heard a lot of people say, 'Ah, I got it this summer, it wasn't that bad.'” She explains to them the reasons for getting vaccinated, such as protecting others who may be older and more vulnerable.
Increasing people's willingness to get vaccinated against the COVID vaccine depends on informing them but also convincing them to feel comfortable about the decision, said William Schaffner, MD, professor of preventive medicine and Infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. Both the brain and the heart go into the decision, he said.
He tells the reluctant: “Vaccines are remarkably safe and prevent serious disease. They're working to keep you out of the hospital. They can't prevent all minor infections, but if they keep you out of the hospital, as I like to say, “What's wrong with that?”
But people don't make decisions based on information alone, he said. “It's how you think about something that matters,” he said, and that requires feeling good that you just're contributing not only to your individual health but to that of the community, he said.
Positive mindset approach
When it involves vaccine unwanted effects, attitude matters, said Alia Crum, PhD, associate professor of psychology at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.
With colleagues, she found that what she calls a perfect mindset is related to a greater immune response. Researchers analyzed 363 people, asked their opinions about possible unwanted effects of the vaccine after which measured their antibody response.
“The ideal setting is that the vaccines are effective, our body is responding and, most importantly, any associated side effects are a sign that the vaccine is working and your body is responding well.”
logistics
It is OK to receive each the COVID vaccine and flu vaccine at the identical time, officials said.
While some experts recommend putting one in each arm, it's okay to place each in the identical arm, like Schaffner did. You may also ask the doctor to spread it a bit in your arm, he said.
It's possible to get the RSV vaccine similtaneously the COVID and flu vaccines, he said, or come back a number of weeks later for that vaccine.
COVID vaccines can be found freed from charge to most adults living within the United States, either through private medical insurance, Medicare or Medicaid. Previously, uninsured people received vaccinations freed from charge Bridge programbut that ends this month.
CDC officials said free COVID vaccines will proceed to be available because of the extra $62 million allocated to make them available. Cohen encouraged the uninsured to contact state and native health departments and federal qualified health centers.