FAQ: New COVID Omicron Boosters

Sept. 12, 2022 — New COVID boosters that concentrate on the fast-spreading Omicron strains of the virus are rolling out this week, with the CDC recommending these so-called bivalent mRNA photographs for Americans 12 and older.

Here are solutions to ceaselessly requested questions concerning the photographs produced by Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech, based mostly on data offered by the CDC and Keri Althoff, PhD, and virologist Andrew Pekosz, PhD, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health epidemiologists.

Q: Who is eligible for the brand new bivalent boosters?

A: The CDC greenlighted the upgraded Pfizer/BioNTech photographs for Americans 12 and older and the Moderna booster for these 18 and over, if they’ve acquired a main vaccine collection or a booster at the least 2 months earlier than.

The boosters have been redesigned to guard towards the predominant BA.4 and BA.5 strains of the virus. The Biden administration is making 160 million of the booster photographs out there freed from cost by means of pharmacies, physician’s places of work, clinics, and state well being departments.

Q: What about kids beneath 12?

A: The new boosters are usually not authorised for youngsters beneath 12. Additional testing and trials have to be performed for security and effectiveness. But officers suggest that kids 5 and above obtain the first vaccine collection and be boosted with one shot. Children 6 months to beneath 5 years are usually not but eligible for boosters.

Pfizer stated it hopes to ask the FDA for authorization in 5- to 11-year-olds in October.

Q: How do the brand new bivalent boosters differ from earlier photographs?

A: The new photographs use the identical mRNA expertise because the prior Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines and boosters however have been upgraded to focus on the newer Omicron strains. The photographs use mRNA created in a lab to show our cells to provide a particular protein that triggers an immune-system response and make antibodies that assist shield us from of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID.

The recipe for the brand new photographs incorporates the so-called “spike protein” of each the unique (ancestral) pressure of the virus and extra extremely transmissible Omicron strains (BA.4, BA.5). Once your physique produces these proteins, your immune system kicks into gear to mount a response.

It’s additionally potential – however but to be decided – that the brand new bivalent boosters will provide safety towards newer however much less frequent strains referred to as BA.4.6 and BA.2.75.

Q: Are there any new dangers or uncomfortable side effects related to these boosters?

A: Health specialists don’t anticipate to see something past what has already been famous with prior mRNA vaccines, with the overwhelming majority of recipients experiencing solely gentle points reminiscent of redness from the shot, soreness, and fatigue.

Q: Do I would like one of many new photographs if I’ve already had previous boosters or had COVID?

Yes. Even in the event you’ve been contaminated with COVID prior to now 12 months and/or acquired the prior collection of main vaccines and boosters, it is best to get a bivalent Omicron shot.

Doing so offers you broader immunity towards COVID and likewise assist restrict the emergence of different variants. The extra Americans with excessive immunity, the higher; it makes it much less doubtless different variants will emerge that may escape the immunity offered by vaccines and COVID infections.

Q: How lengthy ought to I wait, from the time of my final shot, earlier than getting a brand new booster?

A: The bivalent boosters are handiest when given after a time period has handed between your final shot and the brand new one. A 2-to-3-month ready interval is the minimal, however some proof suggests extending it out to 4 to six months could be good timing.

To decide when it is best to get a brand new booster, take a look at the CDC’s Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines Including Boosters web site.

Q: What if I’ve lately had COVID?

A: There are not any particular guidelines a couple of ready interval after COVID an infection. But in case you have been contaminated with the virus within the final 8 weeks, it’s possible you’ll need to look forward to 8 weeks to go earlier than receiving the bivalent booster to permit your immune system to get larger profit from the shot.

Q: If I by no means acquired the unique vaccines, do I have to get these photographs first?

A: Yes. The bivalent vaccine has a decrease dose of mRNA than the vaccines used within the main collection of vaccines, rolled out in late 2020. The bivalent vaccine is allowed to be used as a booster dose and never a main vaccine collection dose.

Q: Do the Omicron-specific boosters fully exchange the opposite boosters?

A: Yes. The new booster photographs, which goal the unique pressure and the Omicron subvariants, at the moment are the one out there boosters for folks ages 12 and older. The FDA not authorizes the earlier booster doses for folks within the authorised age teams.

Q: What if I acquired a non-mRNA vaccine produced by Novavax or Johnson & Johnson? Should I nonetheless get an mRNA booster?

A: You can combine and match COVID vaccines, and you’re eligible to get the bivalent booster 8 weeks after finishing the first COVID vaccination collection – whether or not that was two doses of mRNA or Novavax, or one shot of J&J.

Q: How efficient are the brand new boosters?

A: Scientists don’t have full effectiveness information from the bivalent vaccines but. But as a result of the brand new boosters comprise mRNA from the Omicron and the unique strains, they’re believed to supply larger safety towards COVID total.

Cellular-level information helps this, with research displaying the bivalent vaccines enhance neutralizing antibodies to BA.4/BA.5 strains. Scientists regard these sorts of research as surrogate stand-ins for medical trials. But officers shall be finding out the effectiveness of the brand new boosters, analyzing to what diploma they scale back hospitalizations and deaths.

Q: How lengthy will the boosters’ safety final?

A: Research exhibits that vaccine effectiveness finally wanes, which is why we’ve got the boosters. Scientists shall be monitoring to see how lengthy the safety lasts from the bivalent boosters by means of research of antibody ranges in addition to assessments of extreme COVID sicknesses over time, all through the autumn and winter.

Q: Is it OK to get a flu shot and a COVID booster on the similar time?

A: Yes. In truth, it’s vital to get a flu shot this 12 months as a result of some specialists consider we may see overlapping COVID-influenza surges this fall – a phenomenon some have fancifully referred to as a “twindemic.” Getting a flu shot and COVID booster — concurrently, if potential – is especially vital in the event you’re in a high-risk group.

People who’re inclined to extreme problems from COVID — reminiscent of older folks, folks with weakened immune methods, and people will power well being situations — are additionally particularly weak to extreme influenza problems.

Q: Will a brand new booster imply I can cease carrying a masks, social distancing, avoiding crowded indoor areas, and taking different precautions to keep away from COVID?

A: No. It’s nonetheless a good suggestion to masks up, maintain your distance from others, keep away from indoor areas with folks whose vaccine standing is unknown, and take different precautions towards COVID.

Although the brand new boosters are entrance of thoughts, it’s a good suggestion to additionally use different instruments within the toolbox, as nicely, notably in case you have contact with somebody who’s older, immune-suppressed, has a power situation that places them at larger threat from COVID.

Keep in thoughts: The neighborhood threat of an infection nationwide remains to be excessive at this time, with about 67,400 new instances and almost 320 deaths reported every day within the U.S., in line with the most recent CDC experiences.