Eve Glaser, MD, Elizabeth Koh, MD Andrews McMeel Syndication
Dear Doctor: I received the COVID-19 vaccine in June 2023, so I am overdue for another dose. I have heard that a new vaccine will be available in the fall, and ideally I would like to get it at the same time as my flu shot in October. Will the new COVID vaccine be significantly different from the previous one?
Dear Readers: Summer is drawing to a close and fall is fast approaching, bringing with it the triple season of cold, flu, and COVID. Health data shows that COVID-19 still surpasses all other infectious respiratory diseases in causing severe illness, hospitalization, and sadly, death. The good news is that the gap between COVID-19 and influenza is the narrowest it has ever been.
More than four years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have achieved a high degree of herd immunity. It is now estimated that 98% of Americans have at least some degree of protective immunity. This is primarily due to the availability of vaccines; previous infection also plays a role. Another factor contributing to improved outcomes after COVID-19 infection is the availability of effective therapeutic drugs, notably paxlovir.
You are right about the latest mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in August and is now available. The new vaccine is tailored to target the new variant of the Omicron strain that has caused a recent surge in infections in the United States. The vaccine prevents viral infection. If you do get COVID-19, getting vaccinated can reduce your risk of severe illness. There is also evidence that getting vaccinated before infection cuts your risk of developing long COVID in half.
The fall release of the latest COVID-19 vaccine is intentionally timed to coincide with this year’s flu vaccine release, so that, as you point out in your letter, people can get both vaccinations at once.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend COVID-19 vaccination for everyone 6 months of age and older. As in previous years, those at highest risk for severe illness from the virus are adults 65 years of age and older, people with weakened immune systems, and people with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. People who have not been vaccinated in more than a year or who have never been vaccinated are also at higher risk.
Some people are delaying getting vaccinated to coincide with the peak of respiratory disease seasons, which means people stay indoors and are in close contact with one another during the colder months. Those who plan to delay getting vaccinated are encouraged to take extra precautions, including avoiding crowds and wearing a good mask in public. If you get sick, you may be able to get paxlobidi if you visit a healthcare provider. And remember to isolate yourself for a few days, so you can protect those around you.
Please send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu .
