A new, updated vaccine against the coronavirus is on the way.
This week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved and granted emergency use authorization to updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. The vaccines come from manufacturers including Pfizer and Moderna. The new 2024-25 formula includes a monovalent (single) component designed to prevent severe disease from the latest omicron variant strain, KP.2, of SARS-CoV-2.
We spoke with two experts from UC Davis Health: Stuart Cohen, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases, and Dean Blumberg, chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. They answered common questions about the new COVID-19 vaccine, including when it will be available, who should get the vaccine and why.
How quickly will the new vaccines be available?
Cohen: The FDA has just approved the new formula and is currently discussing when exactly the vaccines will be released. They are expected to be available within the next few weeks, both for the mRNA vaccines such as Pfizer and Moderna, and a little later for the more traditional protein vaccine (Novavax).
How is this COVID vaccine different from the one we had last year?
Cohen: SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID, continues to mutate. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the variant called KP.3.1.1 is the predominant strain of the virus currently circulating. It is a strain related to the so-called “FLiRT” variants.
The new vaccines will therefore target a different strain of the virus than last year’s vaccine. The mRNA vaccines will target the KP.2 strain, which was predominant in the spring. The protein vaccine (Novavax) will target the JN.1 strain. All three vaccines will be effective against the current variants.
Blumberg: These new strains are as different from (the original) Omicron as Omicron is from its original strain. Evolutionarily, they are quite far apart. The updated vaccine is much more closely matched to the variant currently circulating. That match is about 80 percent. We expect it to be much more effective.
What are the CDC’s recommendations for people who should receive the COVID vaccine in 2024?
Cohen: The CDC recommends that everyone age 6 months and older receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine in 2024–25. The new vaccine will protect against the potentially serious effects of COVID-19 this fall and winter, regardless of whether they have been previously vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine.
It is important to understand that although the disease is less severe in vaccinated people, the course of the disease is milder and the risk of long-COVID disease is lower than in unvaccinated people.
Does someone who has already had COVID still need to get vaccinated?
Cohen: Yes, immunity wanes over time and the virus mutates. This is why the CDC made its recent recommendation.
Blumberg: If you’ve had COVID in the last three months, you’re probably protected. But immunity seems to wane after about three months. I recommend waiting those three months before getting vaccinated because it will prolong your protection. For example, if you got COVID in August, why not wait until November to get your booster vaccine? Then you’ll be protected for another four to six months over the winter.
Flu season is starting in a few months. Why should someone get a flu or COVID shot?
Cohen: There are several reasons to get vaccinated. Both COVID and flu can be serious illnesses that result in hospitalization, long-term symptoms, and even death. While these vaccines do not completely prevent infection, they do reduce the risk of these infections having serious consequences.
CDC data continues to demonstrate the importance of vaccination in protecting against severe outcomes from COVID-19 and flu, including hospitalizations and deaths. In 2023, more than 916,300 people were hospitalized due to COVID-19 and more than 75,500 people died from COVID-19. During the 2023-24 flu season, more than 44,900 people are estimated to have died from flu complications.
Can someone get the COVID and flu shots on the same day?
Blumberg: You can get the flu shot and the COVID shot at the same time. You can get them at the same time.
You can also get your COVID vaccine at the same time as your RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) vaccine. Remember that RSV vaccines are recommended for older people and certain younger groups who are at higher risk of severe disease.
Is the new vaccine safe?
Blumberg: The United States has a robust vaccine safety system. There is no doubt that the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the side effects.
Children often have only mild symptoms. Do they still need a COVID vaccination?
Cohen: While the disease is usually mild in children, it can sometimes be more severe. Children are also a chain of transmission for SARS-CoV-2. The risk of vaccination is lower than the risk of the disease.
Is there a recommendation as to which vaccine you should get this year? Does it matter which vaccine you had before – Pfizer, Moderna or Novavax?
Cohen: There is no clear preference. Most people have received the mRNA vaccines, and they will be available sooner. But for those people who don’t want an mRNA vaccine, waiting for Novavax is an option.
The fear of contracting COVID and its consequences seems to have subsided. As an infectious disease expert, what do you really want people to realize?
Cohen: People are still being hospitalized for COVID, and there were about 75,000 deaths last year. Everyone is suffering from COVID fatigue, but if you’re smart and take the right precautions, you can tell if someone is getting seriously ill. The vaccines have been shown to be safe and effective. When case numbers are high, wearing a mask can be protective. The vaccine only adds protection by reducing the severity of the disease if you do get infected.
Related reading:
