A Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is administered at Compass Park in Franklin in 2021.
Daily Journal File Photo
Doctors are encouraging those most at risk to get the updated COVID-19 vaccines.
Last month, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials signed off on recommending the new shots for everyone 6 months and older. Although the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic has faded, and the number of deaths and hospitalizations are not where they once were, people are still getting ill and missing school and work, said Dr. David Dunkle, president and CEO of Johnson Memorial Health.
“COVID is still around. It’s endemic in the population,” Dunkle said.
Similar to how flu shots are updated each year, the Food and Drug Administration gave COVID-19 vaccine producers a new recipe for this fall. The updated shots have a single target, an omicron descendant named XBB.1.5. Previous vaccines offered since last year have been combination shots targeting the original coronavirus strain and a much earlier omicron version, making them outdated, according to the Associated Press.
Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax all have updated vaccines that have been approved for use by federal regulators. They are all available now.
Here’s what to know about the updated vaccines:
Who should get them?
The updated vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are approved for adults and children as young as 6 months. Starting at age 5, most people can get a single dose even if they’ve never had a prior COVID-19 shot, officials with the FDA said. Younger children might need additional doses depending on their history of COVID-19 infections and vaccinations, according to CDC guidelines.
Dunkle
People who are immunocompromised or over the age of 65 are the ones who need the vaccine the most, Dunkle said. He said getting the updated vaccine is more of a personal decision for those who are not immunocompromised and over 65.
“I don’t feel as strongly as I did two years ago that everyone needs to be vaccinated,” Dunkle said. “Honestly, we’re not requiring vaccination at my organization at this time.”
Regardless, people should have a conversation with their primary care provider about what they want to do, he said.
“It’s interesting because the narrative has changed. … The fact of the matter is it is more of an individual decision, I feel, for those not at high risk,” Dunkle said.
Are they safe and effective?
Health officials say they are optimistic, barring new variants.
Today, there is a variety of different coronavirus variants causing illness and the most common ones are fairly close relatives. Recent lab testing from vaccine makers and other research groups suggest the updated shots will offer crossover protection, the Associated Press reported.
There are concerns about myocarditis, a condition where the heart’s muscles are inflamed, and there are valid concerns about slightly increased numbers of comorbidities from those who have gotten the vaccines, Dunkle said.
But people shouldn’t forget that statistically there are many “more complications associated with having COVID-19 than having the vaccine itself,” he said.
“All of these vaccines are proven to be very safe, and the fact of the matter is still they decrease morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19 infection,” Dunkle said.
Where to get them?
Local pharmacies and health facilities say they are offering or plan to offer the updated COVID-19 vaccines, but supply varies from facility to facility.
Both CVS and Walgreens have been offering the updated vaccines since September. Kroger, Walmart and Meijer pharmacies are also offering the vaccines, and appointments can be scheduled on their respective websites. Walk-ins are also accepted.
MinuteClinics, which are affiliated with CVS, are also expected to offer the updated vaccines, according to their website. Little Clinics, which are located inside some Kroger stores, are also offering the vaccines, Kroger says.
As for other health facilities, the supply of updated vaccines is lower.
The Johnson County Health Department has some supply of the updated pediatric vaccines, but does not yet have the updated adult vaccine, said Betsy Swearingen, director.
Johnson Memorial Health is offering the updated COVID-19 vaccine but there is a limited supply for those over the age of 12. Pediatric supply is much better, Dunkle said.
Community Health Network will offer the updated vaccine for children and adults by the beginning of next week, spokesperson Bobbie Brooks said Wednesday. Members of the supply chain are “working diligently” to distribute the product as Community Health is receiving it in allocations, Brooks said.
Franciscan Health is still waiting for its shipment of the updated vaccine, spokesperson Robert Blaszkiewicz said Monday. Once the doses arrive, Franciscan will begin providing vaccinations, he said.
The health system has also seen a high amount of interest from people wanting to get the new vaccine, Blaszkiewicz said.
Federal health officials say the new vaccines will still be free to most Americans through private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid. For the uninsured or underinsured, the CDC is working with health departments, clinics and certain pharmacies — including Walgreens — to temporarily provide free shots.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
