The summer of 2024 saw a surge in COVID-19 cases, driven by new variants. As of early August, the percentage of positive tests reached its highest point since January 2022. Emergency room visits and hospitalizations also increased, though thankfully, deaths remained far below previous surge levels.
Looking ahead to fall, experts anticipate continued circulation of the virus. As people spend more time indoors and respiratory illnesses typically increase, we may see another uptick in cases. With updated vaccines and improved treatments, the hope is to mitigate severe outcomes. Here’s the latest information on updated COVID-19 vaccines:
Latest Variants
According to the American Association of Medical Colleges, the dominant strains in the United States as of August 2024 are part of the “FLiRT” family of variants, specifically KP.1, KP.2, and KP.3. These are descendants of the JN.1 variant, which itself evolved from Omicron.
While these variants show slightly increased transmissibility, they haven’t mutated enough to completely circumvent immunity from previous infections or vaccinations. This is good news, as it means current protective measures and updated vaccines should still be effective.
New Vaccines for Fall 2024
On August 22, 2024, the FDA approved updated mRNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech. Here’s what you need to know:
- Target: These vaccines are specifically designed to protect against the KP.2 variant.
- Availability: They are fully approved for people 6 months and older.
- Comparison: Both Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines use similar mRNA technology and have comparable efficacy.
- Novavax: An updated protein-based vaccine from Novavax targeting the JN.1 variant was approved by the FDA for individuals 12 and over on August 30, 2024.
Vaccination Guidelines
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months and older receive one dose of the updated 2024-2025 vaccine. Additional doses are recommended in some cases based on previous vaccination status and which vaccine was used. Specific guidelines from the CDC include:
- Ages 6 months to 4 years: One to three vaccines dose of the 2024-2025 updated vaccine with two doses if child has never been vaccinated.
- Ages 5 to 11 years: One dose of the 2024-2025 updated vaccine.
- Ages 12 and older: One dose of the 2024-2025 updated vaccine
People 65 and older don’t need an additional dose beyond these recommendations unless they are moderately or severely immunocompromised. Specific recommendations based on age, previous vaccines and which vaccine was used are available here.
Side Effects and Safety
The side effects of the 2024-2025 vaccines are similar to previous versions:
- Common side effects: Pain at injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, nausea
- Rare but serious side effects: Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction)
- Very rare: Heart inflammation (myocarditis/pericarditis), particularly in young males
It’s important to note that the risk of cardiac complications is significantly higher from COVID-19 infection than from vaccination.
Finding Vaccines
To locate and schedule your updated COVID-19 vaccine:
- Visit Vaccines.gov
- Use the site’s vaccine finder tool to locate nearby providers
- Call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) for assistance
Recap
Remember, staying up-to-date with vaccinations remains one of the most effective ways to protect yourself and your community from severe COVID-19 outcomes. As we head into fall, consider getting your updated shot to bolster your immunity against the latest variants.
Responses