By Aliza Rosen
August 25, 2024
Photo / Image Source: Unsplash,
The updated COVID vaccine provides safe, effective protection against current variants for everyone 6 months and older.
Amid an unexpectedly large surge of summer COVID infections in the U.S., and with the fall/winter virus season around the corner, updated COVID vaccines have arrived.
COVID vaccines are one of the best and safest ways to protect against severe illness and hospitalization. Updated COVID vaccines are chosen to target the variants currently circulating and are recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older.
In this Q&A, Andy Pekosz, PhD, a professor in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, discusses who the updated vaccine is recommended for, when to get yours, whether it’s safe to get it alongside other seasonal vaccines.
What’s new about this year’s updated COVID vaccines?
The updated mRNA COVID vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer are based on the KP.2 strain, one of the FLiRT variants that have been spreading since early spring. These variants and their sub-variants have caused the majority of infections during this summer’s COVID wave.
Who should be getting an updated COVID vaccine?
Everyone 6 months and older should get vaccinated against COVID, according to the CDC’s recommendations.
For children ages 6 months to 4 years: Vaccination is recommended, but the number of vaccinations is based on which vaccine they receive, their age, and whether they’ve received a previous COVID vaccine. Parents and guardians should refer to CDC guidance and check with their pediatrician to see what’s recommended for their child.
For people ages 5 years and up: One dose of the updated COVID vaccine is recommended, regardless of whether they’ve been vaccinated previously. If someone has received a COVID vaccine recently, they should wait at least two months before getting the updated one for this season.
According to updated CDC guidelines, individuals who are immunocompromised may receive additional doses with their health care provider’s guidance.
When is the best time to get vaccinated?
This summer’s surge has been larger and lasted longer than many experts anticipated, making it a little trickier than years past to determine the best time to get vaccinated.
People who have not had COVID in the past few months have a couple options:
Get the updated COVID vaccine as soon as it’s available (late August, early September) to protect yourself as the wave of summer infections continues.
Get the updated COVID vaccine around mid-October to build protection in time for the rise of cases that typically occur around November through January.
People at higher risk of severe illness should consider getting an updated COVID vaccine as soon as possible. Everyone who is eligible should get an updated COVID vaccine by mid-October in order to build immunity ahead of holiday travel and gatherings. Remember, it takes about two weeks to build up immunity following a vaccine, so schedule your vaccination accordingly.
How long does protection last after I'm vaccinated?
Broadly speaking, the COVID vaccine provides strong protection against infection for up to three months and protection against severe disease out to six months. That said, there are a lot of variables that can affect duration and strength of protection, including any new variants that may emerge and how different they are from the vaccine formulation.
If I had COVID recently, when should I get the updated vaccine?
If you’ve had COVID this summer, you’ll have strong infection-based immunity and can wait a few months after your infection before getting the vaccine. According to the CDC, you can wait three months since your symptoms began or, for asymptomatic cases, since you first tested positive.
There’s some evidence to support waiting as long as six months after a COVID infection to receive an updated vaccine. Waiting longer than the CDC’s guidance of three months is not recommended for high-risk groups, but it’s something people can discuss with their doctor.
How should I choose which COVID vaccine to get?
Between the two mRNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer, there is no reason to get one over the other. They target the same KP.2 variant, are similarly effective, and elicit similar side effects.
Is the COVID vaccine free?
The COVID vaccine is free under most health insurance plans and Medicare.
If you don’t have insurance to cover the cost of the COVID vaccine, look for vaccination clinics run by your local or state health department. Children under 18 may also be eligible to get a free COVID vaccine through the CDC’s Vaccines for Children Program.
You can find local pharmacies offering COVID vaccines at Vaccines.gov or by contacting your health care provider or local health department.
Have you taken the vaccine? Were you mandated to? By whom?
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