COVID Vaccines: Vital Strategy to Prevent ‘Tripledemic’ Outbreaks

Get ready for the upcoming updated COVID-19 vaccines, just in time for flu shots. Doctors are hopeful that enough people will get vaccinated to prevent another “tripledemic” like last year, when hospitals were overwhelmed by an early flu season, a surge of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and a winter coronavirus surge. COVID-19 hospitalizations have been increasing since late summer, although not as much as last year. RSV is already on the rise in some parts of the Southeast. Approval for the updated COVID-19 shots is expected very soon. These new vaccines are among the tools that the new CDC director believes will help the US avoid another chaotic respiratory season. “There will be a lot of virus this winter. That’s why we want to get ahead of it,” said Dr. Mandy Cohen, the CDC chief.

Here’s what you need to know about fall vaccinations:

• Why more COVID shots?
  The ever-evolving coronavirus is not going away. Similar to flu shots that are updated annually, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has provided COVID-19 vaccine-makers with a new recipe for this fall. The updated shots focus on a single target: an omicron descendant called XBB.1.5. This is a significant change, as the COVID-19 vaccines currently offered target the original coronavirus strain and an earlier version of omicron, making them outdated. Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax have all prepared new supplies.
• Timeline:The FDA will soon evaluate if each company has met safety, effectiveness, and quality standards. The CDC must then give its approval before vaccinations can begin. A CDC advisory panel is scheduled to meet on Tuesday to provide recommendations on the best use of the latest shots. Earlier this month, European regulators authorized Pfizer’s updated vaccine for this fall, for adults and children as young as 6 months.
• Will they be effective enough?
  Health officials are optimistic, unless a new mutant emerges. As expected, XBB.1.5 has diminished in the months it took to adjust the vaccine. Currently, there are various coronavirus variants causing illness, with the most common ones being closely related. Recent lab testing by vaccine-makers and other research groups suggests that the updated shots will offer cross-protection. Previous vaccinations or infections have continued to help prevent severe illness and death, but protection weakens over time, especially against milder infections as the virus evolves. While the FDA did allow seniors and other high-risk individuals to receive an additional booster dose last spring, most Americans have not been vaccinated in about a year. According to Duke University vaccine expert David Montefiori, “The best thing people can do to maintain a normal way of life is to continue to get their booster shots.”
• Who else needs a flu vaccine? The CDC recommends a yearly flu shot for almost everyone ages 6 months and older. It is best to get the shot by the end of October. Similar to COVID-19, influenza can be particularly dangerous for certain groups, including young children, older adults, and individuals with weak immune systems, lung or heart disease.
• Can I get a flu shot and COVID shot at the same time? Yes. According to the CDC, there is no difference in effectiveness or side effects if both vaccines are administered simultaneously. However, receiving one shot in each arm may be more comfortable.

More information is available here, including details about the new RSV vaccine.

(Read more coronavirus vaccine stories.)