Covid Update: A Call to Arms

Good News: is now available. If you are over 65, you should get a booster shot sooner rather than later. If you are also getting your annual flu shot, roll up both sleeves and get one shot in each arm.

The mRNA shots manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna were designed to target the KP.2 variant of the FLIRT family that emerged as the dominant causes of COVID cases this summer.

The FLIRT variants of the COVID virus caused a spike in infections this summer and they appear to be more transmissible than earlier versions of the virus. Most cases were mild, but there were significant increases in hospitalizations and deaths. Most of us have some immunity to the virus due to past vaccine shots and/or natural infections. Medical care for severe infections has improved (including the use of the antiviral drug Paxlovid), so it is not clear that the FLIRT variants are less dangerous than earlier Omicron strains of the virus.

Bad News: The FDA Vaccine Advisory Committee has decided that new COVID vaccines that target emerging variants will only be offered each fall, in concert with annual flu shots. The reasoning is that it will be easier for most people to get both shots once a year than having more frequent COVID booster shots. This strategy is based in part on the low uptake of previous COVID vaccines by most age groups, although those over 65 have the highest coverage. Unfortunately, immunity to the COVID virus wanes after 6 months in the over 65 age group, so the FDA once a year strategy leaves a 6-month gap in protection.

More Bad News: The cost of new COVID vaccines will not be covered by the federal government. They may be covered by insurance plans, but if you have to pay, the shots will be expensive. Medicare should pay for shots if emergency authorization for COVID is extended. Stay alert for more information on whether or not free booster shots will be available.