Title: Americans Could Receive Third COVID-19 Vaccine as Early as Wednesday
Subtitle: New vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna authorized for updated COVID-19 shots
Date: [Date]
By: [Author]
Americans may have another line of defense against COVID-19 as early as Wednesday, with the authorization of the third COVID-19 vaccine on the horizon. This trifecta of vaccines aims to prevent respiratory infections during the fall and winter seasons.
On Monday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave the green light to the updated COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna. A scientific advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is set to convene on Tuesday to review the data and provide further recommendations on the vaccine’s distribution.
Dr. Ashish Jha, former COVID-19 czar for the White House and the dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, anticipates the committee’s recommendation to be in favor of making the vaccines available to everyone. “I expect them to come out and recommend it for everyone,” Dr. Jha stated.
Assuming the recommendations receive the approval of Dr. Mandy Cohen, the new CDC director, large pharmacies are expected to offer the vaccine later this week.
For many Americans, the timely availability of the COVID-19 vaccines is crucial. Although hospital admissions and deaths related to COVID-19 have been increasing steadily since July, the numbers still remain lower compared to previous years.
However, some individuals perceive COVID-19 as a mild threat. Just under half of adults over the age of 65 and approximately one in five American adults overall opted to receive the bivalent booster shot that was offered last fall.
In addition to COVID-19, vaccines against the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (R.S.V.) are already accessible. The flu vaccine is recommended for individuals aged six months and older, while the R.S.V. vaccine is advised for those aged 60 and older, after consulting with a healthcare professional.
Experts recommend that the most vulnerable groups, such as older adults, immunocompromised individuals, and pregnant women, should receive both the COVID-19 and flu vaccines.
According to the CDC, adults aged 65 and older accounted for up to 85 percent of flu-related deaths in recent years. Similarly, individuals aged 75 and older represent the majority of hospitalizations and deaths associated with COVID-19.
The CDC advisory panel will also have to determine whether younger individuals, who have built up strong immunity through previous shots or infections, should be recommended to receive the newer COVID-19 vaccines. While the FDA has authorized the shots for almost everyone, the CDC makes the final recommendations regarding their clinical use.
Unlike the approach in the United States, British officials are limiting the new COVID-19 vaccines to high-risk individuals, including older adults, those with chronic medical conditions, and frontline workers. This decision was prompted by the high costs of vaccines for all citizens, rather than a calculation of who would benefit the most, according to Dr. Jha.
While the greatest benefits of COVID-19 immunization may be seen in high-risk populations, the shots may also aid individuals with lower risk by lowering the severity and duration of illness or reducing missed workdays, explained Dr. Jha.
Moreover, even among young and healthy individuals, COVID-19 poses undefined risks, including potential long-term effects on the heart and the development of long COVID. “I don’t want to diminish the tragedy of younger people who may be hospitalized,” stressed Gigi Gronvall, a biosecurity expert at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
The COVID-19 vaccines will be available for most Americans free of charge, covered by private insurers or through the new federal program for uninsured individuals.