CORONAVIRUS

New COVID boosters coming that target BA.4, BA.5 variants. Here's what you need to know

C. A. Bridges
Palm Beach Post

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There's a new booster in town. Both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have created a new COVID-19 booster shot that works on the original virus and takes aim at the highly-transmissible BA.4 and BA.5 variants, and the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control have both signed off on it.

What does this mean for you? Here's what we know.

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What does the new COVID-19 booster do?

The new booster is a "bivalent" vaccine that goes after both the original virus and the newer BA.4 and BA.5 variants that have evolved from it. According to the FDA, the booster should provide protection for the most vulnerable people, possibly help slow rates of infection at a time of year when historically we see surges and reduce the risk for long COVID, which has been affecting people with lingering symptoms of fatigue, respiratory issues and brain fog that can last for months or longer after the infection.

Both boosters are the original vaccines with additional formulations added that target the mutated spike protein found on the BA.4 and BA.5 versions of the omicron variant.

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Shots of Pfizer-BioNTech’s new COVID-19 booster, which updates the original vaccine to also target the BA.4 and BA.5 variants.

Why is targeting the BA.4 and BA.5 of the COVID-19 omicron variants important?

The surge we had this spring that we're just coming down from now? That's due to the original virus mutating into new versions that were more dangerous or just easier to spread. Last fall the delta variant swept across the country and caused a massive surge, and that was surpassed by the highly-transmissible omicron variant which caused the highest number of cases and deaths of the pandemic so far.

Omicron continued to mutate, leading to the even-easier-to-catch BA.4 and BA.5 variants which swept across the world. According to CDC reports BA.5 now accounts for nearly 90% of all infections in the United States, and the rest are almost all BA.4.

In August Florida reported 209,063 cases and added 2,008 more COVID deaths.

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And we're about to head into the fall and winter, with a new school season starting and people spending more time inside and in close quarters. 

If I'm fully vaccinated, do I need the new COVID booster?

It's a good idea. Evidence suggests that this reformulated booster may be more protective against the current omicron variants than the previous ones, and COVID vaccine and booster protection starts to lessen over time so experts suggest most people get a booster shot six months anyway after their last shot or infection.

Anyone who is immunocompromised should talk to their health care providers as they may need boosters more often.

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Who can get the new COVID booster?

The Pfizer-BioNTech booster is authorized for anyone ages 12 and up. The Moderna booster is authorized for adults 18 and over only.

The CDC expects to recommend the updated boosters for other pediatric groups in the coming weeks, after the FDA has authorized them.

When can I take the new COVID booster?

You can take the new booster at least two months after your last dose, officials said, although some members of the CDC advised waiting at least three months after a vaccination or infection. 

"If you are eligible, there is no bad time to get your COVID-19 booster and I strongly encourage you to receive it,” said CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky in a statement.

Where can I get the new COVID booster?

According to the CDC, the boosters will be available within a few days. Pfizer has already shipped more than 100,000 doses to 62 locations across the U.S. and expects to have 3 million doses available at more than 3,300 sites by Tuesday, the end of the Labor Day holiday weekend. Check with your local pharmacy or healthcare provider for availability.

Can you take the flu and COVID vaccines at the same time? 

Yes. When the COVID-19 vaccines first came out, the CDC recommended a two-week wait between vaccines, just in case. But after millions of shots were given and further studies were done, they revised their guidelines. There's no problem getting them at the same time.

"Experience with giving other vaccines together has shown the way our bodies develop protection and possible side effects are generally similar whether vaccines are given alone or with other vaccines," the CDC says.

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Will the side effects be worse if I get a COVID-19 vaccine and flu shot at the same time? 

It depends on the person getting the shot, and whether you're likely to have side effects. But it also means you'll get any achiness or fatigue over at the same time instead of two separate bouts with it.

 According to the CDC, “possible side effects are generally similar whether vaccines are given alone or with other vaccines.” 

Contributor: Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY

C. A. Bridges is a Digital Producer for the USA TODAY Network, working with multiple newsrooms across Florida. Local journalists work hard to keep you informed about the things you care about, and you can support them by subscribing to your local news organizationRead more articles by Chris here and follow him on Twitter at @cabridges