Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House Covid Coordinator, said Wednesday that newly updated Covid boosters will be available to teens and adults "in the coming weeks."
"I think it will eventually be available and available to all Americans over the age of 12," Jha told NBC News' Lester Holt.
The new booster targets not only the original strain of the virus, but also the Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5. BA.5 accounts for nearly 90% of new his Covid cases in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Covid-19 pandemic
Food and Drug Jha said that it will determine whether only those will be effectively protected, adding that "it should work much better." More for transmission of infection and prevention of serious illness than current boosters.”
When will I get the next booster?
Currently, adults and immunocompromised individuals over the age of 50 are eligible for a second booster four months after he receives the first booster.
New shots are coming soon, so those who qualify should either get the next one now or wait for the updated version.
At first glance, it may seem easy to know when to hit the next shot. A redesigned booster should offer the highest level of protection against the predominant circulating form of the virus, so waiting seems like a reasonable option.
But getting a vaccine? The issue is compounded in countries where volumes vary widely and people carry varying levels of risk.
Many eligible people in the United States are vaccinated but do not receive a booster dose. Some are double boosted. Further confusing the issue is whether a person has been infected or reinfected.
Immune levels across the country are "significantly different than they were just a year ago," says Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. . He said center.
To further complicate matters, scientists believe that if people get their next vaccination this fall, they will be immune to the virus during the winter when Covid cases occur. Concerns have been raised about whether the defenses will hold up well. expected to rise again.
Studies have shown that antibodies generated from existing vaccines begin to decline after just a few months.
"There is no clear answer," said Dr. Katherine Pauling, a vaccine expert and pediatrician at Atrium Health in North Carolina, Wake Forest. Timing the next vaccine is as difficult as "timing the stock market," she said.
The best way to time the next COVID-19 vaccination may be to look at individual risk factors such as age and underlying medical conditions . Time since last vaccination, experts say.
Older people and those with weakened immune systems are often at highest risk of serious complications from Covid, butother diseases such as diabetes, asthma and chronic lung disease Same goes for groups
"If someone is in a high-prevalence area and is in a highly vulnerable state, they may want to immediately take advantage of the boosters that are currently available. said Dr. Ofer-Levy. Precision at Boston Children's Hospital He is the director of the vaccine program.
On the other hand, those who are younger and healthier and live in areas with less Covid-19 infection may be able to make the decision to wait for the latest booster, he said.
Existing vaccines already received by young healthy individuals should offer "protection against the worst outcomes of admission to the intensive care unit and death." 53}
Indeed, deferring vaccination until updated boosters are available is a gamble for everyone: Covid cases remain high in the United States, Over 98,000 cases. According to CDC data,
In addition, federal health officials are still deciding whether to distribute updated doses immediately to all US adults or to start with the highest number of adults. Not decided.
Whether the agency will make the vaccine readily available to all eligible people will depend on how much supply Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna can manufacture and distribute by next month. A person who is familiar with the discussion that there is. If supplies are initially limited, updated doses may be sent first to those at greatest risk, such as the elderly and immunocompromised.
which may reflect next month is offering the latest boosters to people over the age of 50 and those at higher risk due to their work and health conditions. (The new UK booster, unlike the US offering, targets the original version of omicron called BA.1 that was circulated earlier this year.)
American Chamber of Commerce Tuesday During a webinar at the company's webinar, Jha said that if you're eligible, you should get your Boostershots now, and you should be able to get your updated Boostershots in the coming months.
"My general feeling is that even if you're only weeks away from an updated booster, there's no reason to wait. Get it," he said.
Vanderbilt Schaffner of the University Medical Center noted that there is no guarantee that an up-to-date vaccine will be available, and agreed that people should not wait.
Boston Children's Hospital Dr. Levy said there is no downside to getting a booster now if you are eligible.