The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a recommendation on Tuesday that all Americans aged 6 months and older should receive at least one dose of the latest Covid vaccines. These vaccines, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), are intended to prevent another surge in respiratory infections during the fall and winter seasons. The reformulated Covid vaccines by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have been reviewed by scientific advisers to the CDC, who voted to recommend them. Large pharmacies are expected to have the new vaccines available later this week.
Flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines are already available. The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and older, while the RSV vaccine is recommended for those aged 60 and older, in consultation with a healthcare provider.
During a meeting on Tuesday, some CDC advisers expressed uncertainty about recommending the new Covid vaccines to younger adults and had concerns about potential side effects, particularly in children and young males. Others worried that recommending the vaccines for all Americans might undermine the messaging about the need for higher-risk groups, such as older adults. However, the committee ultimately voted to endorse the new vaccines for everyone based on data showing the risks of Covid at any age.
The panel’s recommendations specifically apply to the updated Covid shots by Pfizer and Moderna. The timing and number of recommended doses vary depending on age and previous immunizations, but it is advised that most Americans receive at least one shot.
The guidelines will be expanded to include another vaccine by Novavax and any other vaccines authorized by the FDA in the future. The Novavax vaccine may serve as an alternative for those who cannot receive mRNA vaccines like Pfizer’s and Moderna’s.
Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax stated to the CDC panel that they would charge $120 to $130 per dose for the new Covid vaccines. However, the shots will be available at no cost to most Americans until December 2024, through private insurers and a new federal program for uninsured individuals.
While some view Covid as a mild threat, hospital admissions and deaths associated with Covid have been increasing since July. It is important for vulnerable individuals, such as older adults, immunocompromised people, and pregnant women, to receive both the Covid and flu vaccines. Adults aged 65 and older have accounted for a significant portion of flu-related deaths in recent years, and Covid hospitalizations are highest among adults aged 75 and older.
The new vaccines have been designed to target the Omicron variant XBB.1.5. Although this variant now represents a small percentage of cases, the majority of circulating variants are closely related to it. The new vaccines have shown effectiveness against all these variants.
Covid immunization can provide benefits beyond preventing severe illness and death, including helping individuals recover sooner or miss fewer days of work. However, immunity from infection and immunization can wane over time.
Even among young and healthy individuals, Covid poses serious health risks, including long-term effects on the heart and other organs. It is important to note that the prevalence of post-Covid symptoms decreases over time, and the Omicron variant has lower rates of ongoing symptoms compared to previous versions of the virus.
The new Covid vaccines are currently being offered in Britain only to high-risk individuals, due to the costs associated with offering them to everyone.
For individuals who are unable or unwilling to make multiple trips to receive flu and Covid vaccinations separately, experts recommend getting the shots together. However, if possible, it may be wise to time the shots to provide maximum protection. Influenza typically peaks in February, so getting the flu shot in October is generally recommended.
It is worth mentioning that Dr. Ashish Jha, the former White House Covid coordinator, personally received the Covid and flu shots at the same time and experienced only mild soreness in his arms.
