With winter fast approaching, it is essential to stay current with the latest in COVID-19 recommendations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently changed their vaccine and booster schedules.
Older adults are more likely to become severely ill or die if infected with COVID-19. Those 65 and older are at a higher risk of death if infected with COVID-19 than other age groups. Because of the increased risk, the CDC recommends that those 65 and older:
COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are effective against severe COVID-19 side effects, including death, for those 65 and older.
The FDA is expected to approve new COVID-19 booster shots this month. Once the new booster shots are approved, they will become available in late September. The CDC will provide guidance on its COVID-19 website about who should get the new boosters and when they will be available.
During the winter of 2021-2022, COVID-19's omicron variant was the most common. Its subvariants are most of the reported variants of COVID-19 cases. Omicron variants and subvariants are the most reported because they are adept at sidestepping current vaccines and boosters. As omicron evolved, the older vaccines and boosters became less effective.
The new vaccines will target the latest omicron variants from the XBB lineage. XBB is a mixture of two subvariants of the BA.2 omicron variant. While several variants of XBB have been reported, the new vaccines target the XBB.1.5 variant.
The CDC is also watching another Omicron subvariant, EG.5. Cases of EG.5 are increasing and are the most common in the United States. However, XBB variants remain predominant. The updated boosters are expected to be effective against EG.5.