Updated COVID-19 vaccines: What you need to know
September 11, 2024
If it feels like COVID-19 is back in the news again, that’s because it is. On July 27, 2024, the percentage of national lab results testing positive for COVID-19 surpassed January 2022 levels and have continued to gradually climb. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) data tracker, emergency room visits and hospitalizations have also increased over the recent summer months.
Amid this new wave of infections, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved updated COVID-19 vaccines for the 2024-2025 season.
The new Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are specifically designed to target the most widespread variants this year: JN.1, KP.1, KP.2, and KP.3. Known as FLiRT variants due to the location of their cell protein mutations, these are subvariants of Omicron, a highly contagious COVID-19 variant that appeared in November 2021.
Variants are versions of the virus that have slight changes in their genetic code, which can affect virus behavior as well as vaccine and treatment effectiveness. COVID-19 variants can be deadly, accounting for 1.8% of deaths in the U.S. from August 10-17, 2024. Much like the influenza virus, COVID-19 is always mutating, so vaccines need to be updated regularly to protect against current variants.
With all the new variants, updated vaccines, and developing vaccinations such as Novavax, people may have a lot of questions about who should get vaccinated and when. We’re here to answer some common questions about the current variants and the latest round of updated vaccines.
Do I need an updated COVID-19 vaccine?
According to the most recent CDC guidelines, the 2024-2025 updated vaccines are recommended for anyone over the age of 6 months. Getting vaccinated reduces the risk of severe infection and lessens the chances of complications if you do catch the virus.
Getting the updated vaccine is especially important for people at high-risk of developing severe COVID-19 complications. Risk factors include:
- Age 65 and older
- Weakened immune system, such as people getting chemotherapy or taking immune suppressive medications as well as those with AIDS/HIV
- Breathing disorders, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
Even if you don’t have risk factors for severe COVID-19 complications, getting the vaccine may lessen the effects of the illness if you get a breakthrough infection. Getting vaccinated also helps protect the people around you at work, in your home, and in your community.
Children
Children 6 months to 4 years old should get either two doses of the 2024-2025 Moderna vaccine or three doses of the 2024-2025 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Depending on the number of prior doses, they may need one or two additional doses of the same mRNA vaccine for complete protection.
Children typically have less severe symptoms with COVID-19 and tend to bounce back sooner, which might influence parents to skip or delay the vaccine. However, getting the vaccine for children may help them avoid the misery and downtime of illness and reduce the risk of infection in your household and at school.
If you’ve had COVID-19 recently
While a recent COVID infection may boost immunity, not all infections provide a significant enough immune response to protect from future infections. The recommendation is to wait for three months to get a vaccine. However, you can get the vaccine earlier without ill effects. Talk to your doctor about the best time to get your updated shot.
If you’ve been vaccinated before
You can safely switch between Pfizer and Moderna vaccines – their core technology is similar. The CDC recommends waiting at least two months between COVID-19 vaccinations to reduce acute side effects, such as:
- Fatigue
- Pain and swelling at the injection site
- Nausea
- Fever
- Muscle pain
If this is your first vaccine
CDC recommends that everyone age 5 and older get one dose of the updated Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, even if they are previously unvaccinated. If your child under 5 hasn’t been vaccinated before, then they may need multiple doses.
You don’t need to start with the original vaccine formulation and gradually step up, like we did earlier in the pandemic. This is because the initial vaccines were designed for versions of COVID-19 that no longer circulate at high levels. However, if you’re immunocompromised, your health care provider may recommend multiple doses of the current vaccine. The updated vaccines provide more protection against the current FLiRT strains.
Related reading: Top 10 questions about COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5-11
How do the updated vaccines work?
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines use messenger ribonucleic acid RNA (mRNA) technology, just like their predecessors. An mRNA vaccine introduces a small piece of mRNA into the body that tells cells to produce a protein that triggers an immune response. This process helps the immune system recognize and fight the real virus if exposed in the future. The latest updated Moderna and Pfizer vaccines use the KP.2 variant as a model.
Novavax, another vaccine, was granted emergency use authorization by the FDA on Aug. 30, 2024, for people ages 12 and older. This vaccine technology stimulates an immune response in patients by directly introducing a harmless version of a virus protein into the body, causing the immune system to recognize and respond to it. Novavax is modeled on the JN.1 variant and may be an alternative for people who are allergic to a component in the mRNA vaccines.
Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax vaccines will cover the three most common variants that are circulating right now. The vaccines cannot give you COVID-19, and coverage lasts a few months.
When will the new vaccines be available?
The new vaccines should be widely available in September 2024. Patients can check with their local pharmacy or their health care provider to see whether they have any doses yet. Some retail pharmacies are already administering vaccinations.
Related reading: Are we really in a race against the COVID-19 variants?
Is it safe to get multiple vaccines (such as flu and COVID-19) at once?
Yes, it is safe for most patients to get multiple vaccines, such as the flu, Tdap for whooping cough, pneumonia, shingles, and COVID-19 vaccines, at the same time.
What should I do if I get infected with COVID-19?
If you test positive for COVID-19, seek medical care if you:
- Are immunocompromised or are at high risk of complications.
- Have trouble breathing.
- Experience confusion or chest pain.
About 30% of COVID-19 patients develop what is commonly known as Long COVID – a set of symptoms that includes fatigue, brain fog, difficulty breathing, pain, and more. UT Southwestern’s COVID Recover program offers individual support to people dealing with persistent symptoms. This includes a virtual wellness group, therapy, cognitive exercises, and rehab. Patients can learn skills such as breathing easier after COVID and conditioning exercises to rebuild their strength.
It’s been a relief to see the severity of COVID-19 infections decrease since the start of the pandemic. However, at-risk individuals are still hospitalized with it every day, and the disease should be taken seriously.
To stay well-protected as the virus keeps changing, it’s important to keep up with your vaccinations. These updated shots are crucial for preventing serious illness and protecting those who are at higher risk.
To talk with an expert about getting an updated COVID-19 vaccine, call 214-645-8300 or request an appointment online.
