The latest version of the COVID-19 vaccine is now available at pharmacies and clinics in the St. Louis area since the federal Food and Drug Administration authorized it for emergency use in August.
Health care workers encourage everyone to get vaccinated, especially with new variants of the virus circulating in the region this summer.
I heard there’s a new vaccine. Where can I get it?
Last summer, the FDA granted emergency approval to new versions of the COVID-19 vaccines many are now familiar with: mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. These vaccines, widely available at local pharmacies, work by using pieces of genetic material that match the coronavirus’ genetic material. The vaccines teach cells to make antibodies against the virus, preparing the body to fight off a possible infection.
Catherine Gilmore, a pharmacist and professor at the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, said these latest vaccines are tailored to a newer variant of the virus called KP.2 that circulated over the summer.
The coronavirus “changes little by little to sort of outwit our immune system, which is why there are different strains,” she said, “and that’s why we continue to develop new vaccines to treat those strains.”
The FDA also approved a new vaccine from pharmaceutical company Novavax, which is closer to traditional non-mRNA immunizations. The FDA authorized its emergency use only for people aged 12 and older.
“We’ll have to look into it a bit more,” Huerskoetter said of the Novavax vaccine.
That’s because many pharmacies don’t want to buy different types of vaccines for different age groups, she said. People who want the vaccine can check the drug company’s website to see which pharmacies carry it.
Is the coronavirus spreading further? Are there more cases?
Beth Huelskoetter, a nurse who works at OSF Healthcare in Godfrey, said she’s seeing more people going to the doctor with coronavirus symptoms.
“We’re currently seeing an upswing in cases,” she said. “The number of positive cases is definitely increasing and is following a similar pattern to flu and cold season.”
She said coronavirus infection rates increased over the summer, which is a bit unusual because most respiratory viruses spread during colder months.
In the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Region 7, which includes Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas, one in five tests came back positive in early September, a higher rate than the rest of the country.
Levels of COVID-19 in Missouri wastewater treatment plants increased steadily from the summer through early August, according to wastewater data from the University of Missouri and the state Department of Health and Human Services. Levels have started to drop but remain “very high,” according to the CDC.
Who should get vaccinated and when should they schedule their vaccination?
Health officials encourage everyone to get vaccinated, especially those with weakened immune systems and the elderly.
“If your immune system is functioning normally, it’s a good idea to get vaccinated even after some time has passed,” Gilmore said, “but for people who are immunocompromised – people who have illnesses or take medications that weaken their immune system – it’s even more important that they get this latest COVID-19 vaccine to boost their immune response if they come into contact with the coronavirus.”
She said one of the few groups who should hold off on getting the vaccine are people who have recently had COVID-19, with the federal government recommending people wait at least three months after a positive test before getting the latest vaccine.
Those who have recently been vaccinated against COVID-19 will also have to wait.
What happens if I get sick? Have the guidelines changed?
The CDC earlier this year updated its guidelines for how people who test positive for coronavirus should respond, with the agency arguing that the new guidelines are more in line with those for influenza and other common respiratory illnesses.
Not everyone is on board with the new policy — public health experts say it will make workplaces and public places more dangerous — but federal health officials say the mutating virus is now much less deadly than it once was.
“CDC’s updated guidance reflects the changing situation, particularly around COVID-19,” agency officials wrote in March. “While it remains a threat, it is much less likely to cause severe illness today due to widespread immunity and improved means of preventing and treating the disease.”
The new guidelines say people with any respiratory virus, including COVID-19, should stay home if they feel sick. If their symptoms improve and they’ve been fever-free for 24 hours, they can return to their normal activities. They’re still encouraged to wear a mask if possible and maintain distance from others.
“You’re most likely to spread it when you have a fever,” Huelskoetter says. “When you have a fever, your body is working really hard to fight the infection, so that’s when you know you’re at your sickest.”
People who test positive but have no symptoms should continue to wear masks, take other precautions, and self-test before meeting others while monitoring for symptoms.
Can I still get a vaccine or coronavirus test for free?
The federal government announced last month that it was reinstating its free coronavirus testing program. Starting later this month, households will be able to order up to four COVID tests for free through COVIDtests.gov.
Vaccines are more complicated: The federal government’s “bridge access” program, which offered vaccines for free to the uninsured and those whose insurance didn’t cover the shots, ended when funding ran out, Gilmore said.
People with insurance will likely be able to get vaccinated for free, but those who don’t have insurance should look for options at their community health center or local health department.
She said St. Louis County Health Department clinics will soon be offering small amounts of the new COVID vaccine for people who don’t have insurance.