Three Things Thursday highlights three things I am paying attention to as an epidemiologist each week.
The three things I am paying attention to this week all have to do with vaccines.
The public health community is focused on the upcoming fall/winter RSV-COVID-flu season. Yes, we are a little worried about another tripledemic. But for the first time ever, we have vaccines available for each of these diseases. That said — not everyone is eligible to get each vaccine and we are still waiting for information from CDC regarding who will be able to get the COVID vaccine.
Below is your fall vaccine update — what vaccines are available, for whom, and when is the ideal time to get vaccinated?
Hoping this post helps to educate and empower you
to be healthy and create healthy communities.
COVID
In June, FDA approved a new COVID booster for the fall. While we know what variant of COVID will be included in the vaccine, we do NOT know who will be eligible for a booster shot.
I want to repeat that —
We do NOT know who will be eligible for a COVID booster shot in the fall.
(We anticipate and hope) CDC will determine who will be able to get a COVID booster shot in the coming weeks 🤞🏻.
No meeting date has been set.
As we wait for word from CDC, the UK announced yesterday that fall COVID boosters would only be available to older adults (and their caretakers), individuals who are immunocompromised (and their caretakers), and individuals living in long-term care facilities. Booster shots are NOT recommended for healthy adults and children.
That said (the new) CDC director, Dr. Mandy Cohen, has said —
“…we anticipate that COVID will become similar to flu shots, where it is going to be you get your annual flu shot and you get your annual COVID shot.”
While we do NOT know who will be eligible for a COVID booster, we do know that —
Fall 2023 boosters will be monovalent (meaning they will include the mRNA or a nanoparticle of the spike protein of a single version of the SARS-CoV-2 virus). Only the Omicron variant will be included.
Individuals will have the opportunity to get one of three vaccines in the fall. The Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax COVID vaccines will be available in the fall (with the Omicron-only variant formula). Pfizer and Moderna use an mRNA vaccine technology. Novavax, on the other hand, uses a more traditional vaccine technology; a nanoparticle of the spike protein (that has been engineered so it does NOT cause disease) is injected into the body triggering the immune system to build defenses specific to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
We are expecting CDC and its vaccine advisory committee to meet later this summer (or early in the fall — as summer is quickly coming to a close) to discuss and approve who will be able to get a COVID booster vaccine. Shots are being produced now by all three pharmaceutical companies and will be available in the fall.
We all need to stay tuned… Be sure you are subscribed so that you are among the first to know if you can get a booster shot or not.
RSV
In July FDA approved a monoclonal antibody treatment to prevent severe illness from RSV for infants and young children. Last week, the CDC Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) approved this treatment, and then Dr. Mandy Cohen officially approved the use of nirsevimab, trade name BeyfortusTM, a long-acting monoclonal antibody product, for use.
CDC recommends one dose of nirsevimab for all infants younger than 8 months, born during – or entering – their first RSV season (typically fall through spring). For a small group of children between the ages of 8 and 19 months who are at increased risk of severe RSV disease, such as children who are severely immunocompromised, a dose is recommended in their second season.
Additionally, a new RSV vaccine has been approved for adults aged 60 years and older.
Both the new RSV vaccine for older adults and monoclonal antibody treatment for babies will be available this fall.
RSV season typically begins in the fall. If you or someone you love/care for is eligible for one of the new RSV preventive treatments — talk with your healthcare provider and as soon as the shots are available, get in line to get your jab.
Influenza
The southern hemisphere is in the thick of the flu season right now (flu season typically runs from April through October). Those of us living in the northern hemisphere (where flu season doesn’t begin until October; peaking from December through March) can take a few cues from our neighbors in the south…
News from Australia is that the flu season began early this year (in March). And that this year’s flu strains have been especially hard on children; children have accounted for 80% of all flu hospitalizations to date.
What does this mean?
Well, we need to prioritize vaccinating our kids against the flu this year. And we should all prioritize getting our flu shot in September or October this year.
The flu vaccine is approved by both FDA and CDC. Everyone who is over 6 months of age should get a flu shot (unless you have an egg protein allergy).
Shots should be available in the coming weeks.
I plan to get my flu shot the first week of October (at my annual check-up).
That was a lot of information!
Here’s a quick Fall Vaccine Cheat Sheet —
And feel free to ask a question — there is so much misinformation out there. Be sure you have accurate and up-to-date information.
And be sure to share this information with your friends and family.