You may soon be able to get a newly updated COVID-19 vaccine shot: The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new version of a booster designed to provide better protection against currently circulating variants of the coronavirus.
With children returning to school at the same time sewage levels and hospitalizations from COVID-19 are rising, the new vaccine could help provide extra protection at a critical time, experts told TODAY.com.
Pharmacies are expected to start offering vaccinations in the coming days, NBC News reported.
Is the summer COVID surge still happening?
“We are currently seeing increased COVID-19 activity across the country,” CDC Director Mandy Cohen said in a conference call with reporters. But current data shows that higher levels of COVID-19 infection “are not translating into increased emergency room visits, hospitalizations, or deaths,” Cohen said. “This is similar to the trends we saw last summer.”
“We're in the midst of a summer surge of cases right now,” NBC Medical Director Dr. Natalie Azar said on the TODAY show on Aug. 22. More than 40 states have reported high or very high concentrations of COVID-19 in wastewater, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“We're seeing an increase in cases this summer as we expect,” Dr. Megan Ranney, dean of the Yale School of Public Health, told TODAY.com. “Again, the virus is mutating, people's immunity is waning, and protection measures are lessening, which is why we're seeing more cases.”
This surge has been driven primarily by the emergence of new highly contagious variants, including FLiRT strains such as KP.3 and its cousin KP.3.1.1.
While the latest vaccines did offer some protection against those strains, the new variants are very different and require the latest booster shots, Dr. Bernard Cummins, medical director of infection prevention at Mount Sinai Health System, told TODAY.com.
“Vaccination remains the cornerstone of COVID-19 prevention,” Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in a press release announcing the approval.
“Given the population's waning immunity from past exposure to the virus and previous vaccinations, we strongly encourage eligible people to consider getting the latest COVID-19 vaccination to increase protection against currently circulating variants,” the statement continued.
As we head into the fall, it's important that we remain vigilant and take advantage of the tools we have available to keep us safe and healthy, including COVID-19 vaccines, testing and treatments, Cohen said on the conference call.
“Plan to get your latest vaccine in September or October to prepare for the anticipated increase (of COVID-19 and influenza) this winter,” Cohen added.
Which variants does the new booster protect against?
The new vaccines are designed to offer better protection against more recent strains, particularly the JN.1 strain that was responsible for the surge in infections earlier this year, and the FDA has recommended that drugmakers target the KP.2 strain, a descendant of JN.1, in fall vaccinations, if possible.
The two improved vaccines, one from Pfizer and one from Moderna, target only one strain, known as KP.2, according to the FDA announcement.
As TODAY.com previously explained, KP.2 is one of the FLiRT variants that circulated over the summer. The latest estimates suggest that variant KP.3.1.1 is currently leading the way, causing about 37% of cases in the U.S., while KP.3 causes about 17% and KP.2.3 just over 14% of cases.
Another variant, LB.1, currently causes about 14% of COVID-19 cases, and is another descendant of JN.1.
However, JN.1 itself has declined significantly and now accounts for just 0.2% of cases, according to CDC estimates.
Who should get the new COVID booster shot?
Azar said the CDC in June recommended that everyone 6 months of age or older get the latest COVID-19 vaccine this year, in addition to the flu vaccine. Older adults should also consider getting the new RSV vaccine this fall, which was only approved last year, Cummins said.
Azar added that people in more vulnerable groups “definitely want to get it,” including those over 65, those with weakened immune systems and those with certain underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk for severe COVID-19 complications.
For people who haven't yet been vaccinated and are still at high risk for COVID-related complications amid the current surge in cases, Cummins recommends relying on the strategies they've used so far, which include wearing a quality mask in crowded indoor settings and avoiding such environments whenever possible.
“The virus is mutating, which continues to drive these waves, but the way it spreads hasn't changed,” Ranney said. In addition to wearing masks in crowded places and on public transportation, he recommends holding events outdoors to slow the spread of infection and getting tested before gathering with at-risk people.
Cummins said people in this group should keep Paxlovid in mind in case of COVID-19 infection.
Because people with immunocompromised immune systems may not get the full protection they need from vaccinations, Cummins says they can talk to their doctor about monoclonal antibody therapy. The FDA granted emergency use authorization for the drug, Pemgarda, in March, and Cummins says the drug may help prevent COVID-19 infection in these people.
When should I get the COVID booster shot?
The vaccine was approved earlier in the season than past vaccines: Last fall's booster shot was approved in mid-September 2023 and offered protection against the XBB coronavirus strain, for example.
But experts predict a new wave of the virus could come later this year, as we've seen with COVID-19 every winter, and it's important to get up-to-date on the vaccine before that happens, Ranney said.
The vaccine's protection takes several weeks to reach its maximum and then gradually fades over two to three months, Ranney said, so even if people get the vaccine as soon as it's available, it may not provide enough protection against a subsequent winter surge.
So deciding the perfect time to change your dosage can be difficult. Here are some things to consider that can help you make the decision:
Are you at high risk for severe COVID-19?
Experts say with the virus still spreading at high levels in many parts of the country, high-risk people, including older people, should consider getting the new vaccine as soon as it becomes available to them.
If you can't get it now, make sure you get it before the winter surge, Ranney said. “Whether you get it today or in mid-October, get that booster shot. … Getting that booster shot is the most important thing for high-risk people,” she said. “And last year, vaccination rates in these most high-risk groups were woefully low.”
Cummins says it's important to remember that people in these categories may be eligible to get another shot later in the winter, when the protection provided by this vaccine wears off. That's exactly what happened in February when the CDC recommended that older adults get another shot after a post-holiday surge in cases. But it's unclear if that will be the case again this year, Cummins adds.
Azar said it may be especially difficult for people who are at low risk for COVID-19 infection to decide when to get their renewal vaccination shot.
These people likely won't be eligible to get vaccinated later in the winter, but the protection provided by the vaccine will start to wane after 90 to 120 days, Cummins explained. So, “if you're at low to moderate risk, it may actually be better to wait a couple of months so that you're protected when the inevitable winter surge comes,” Azar said.
Do you have children attending school?
Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, previously told TODAY.com that children who attend school, especially those at high risk, should get the vaccine as soon as it's available to them to reduce the risk of contracting the virus in the classroom and bringing it home.
For kids who aren't at as high risk, “I don't think it's as important to get the booster shot as it was a few years ago,” Ranney said. “It's not a bad idea to get the booster shot, but it's a choice about how much protection you want against infection.”
Are there any situations in the future where I might be more likely to become infected?
Cummins, who plans to get vaccinated before traveling next month, recommends planning your shot with high-risk situations in mind — for example, thinking about timing your vaccination to protect yourself during any big trips you're planning or high-risk events like large indoor weddings.
“The vaccine is most effective at suppressing infection in the first few months after vaccination,” Ranney said. “If you have a major event coming up, plan your vaccination to coincide with that.”
Have you had COVID recently?
People who had COVID-19 during this summer's outbreak may want to consider postponing their next dose.
“If you've had a recent infection, your body already has built up antibodies, so the vaccine isn't as effective,” Ranney explains. “It won't hurt you to get it now, but it won't be as effective, so it's best to wait a couple of months.”
The CDC says people who have recently been infected with COVID-19 should try to keep their vaccination up to date, but “may consider delaying vaccination by up to three months.”
“We know that a lot of people got infected over the summer,” Azar said. “In that case, it may be wise to wait about three to four months before getting[the improved booster shot].”
As TODAY.com previously explained, being infected with COVID-19 provides some protection against currently circulating strains, but protection after infection typically isn't as long-lasting as a vaccine, so you'll still need to eventually get an updated vaccine.
Are you not insured?
Funding for the CDC's Bridge Access Program, which helps uninsured adults get vaccinated, will run out at the end of August, Ranney said.
The CDC has set aside an additional $62 million to cover the costs of vaccinating the uninsured, but Ranney explains that “given how many uninsured people there are in the United States, that's not going to amount to much.”
So if you don't have insurance, “get that booster shot as soon as you can,” she says.
Common Side Effects of COVID Boosters
The exact side effects of a COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot may vary from person to person.
In general, the CDC says symptoms may include:
Pain, redness, swelling at the injection site, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, fever, chills, nausea
These side effects are usually temporary and mild, but may still interfere with your ability to carry out your normal work duties for a day or two.
If your arm is very sore, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever, gently stretch your arm, or use a cold or hot compress after getting the vaccine, according to the CDC. You shouldn't take painkillers before the shot because they can affect your immune response, according to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. And of course, it's important to rest and stay hydrated while your body deals with side effects.
If possible, plan to rest the day after receiving the vaccine.
