The summer surge of COVID-19 cases throughout Philadelphia and the country, making a lot of people sick and affecting back-to-school plans and activities. By now, immunity from the latest COVID-19 vaccine in the fall of 2023 has worn off, and new variants of the virus made it more difficult to fight off infection. Most people who have previously had COVID-19 and developed natural immunity fighting off the illness are now also at risk again.
Luckily, hope is on the horizon. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved an updated version of the COVID-19 vaccine from Modern and Pfizer. These two vaccines are designed to target he KP.2 variant. Another vaccine, Novavax, that targets an earlier strain of COVID-19 is expected to be approved by the FDA soon. All of these strains, and the newer variants from the summer, are part of the omicron group. These new vaccines reduce your risk of getting COVID-19 by 60%-70% and lower your risk of getting seriously ill, where you might need to be hospitalized, by 80%-90%.
These updated shots will be available in pharmacies and clinics (including CVS and Walgreens) to anyone ages 6 months and older in the coming weeks. To maximize your chances of getting the best level of protection from the new vaccines, you should wait at least two or three months since your last COVID-19 infection. If you want to be more protected in the winter months, you can aim for September or October to get your vaccine.
Last year, the Bridge Access Program helped provide free COVID-19 vaccines to adults in the U.S. without insurance or adults whose insurance did not cover 100% of the vaccine costs. Sadly, this program is ending this month, August 2024. It is unclear what programs will be available to ensure access to vaccines for the millions of people who cannot afford them. Keila Canete, Executive Director of Mi Salud Wellness Center on Wyoming Avenue told me that because of the Bridge Access program, “Esperanza was able to partner with Mi Salud Wellness center and provide free vaccines to the community. It is unfortunate that these programs rely on limited funding to provide a much-needed service, particularly for the uninsured and underinsured. Mi Salud will continue to advocate for funding for vaccines and other needed preventive health services.» We are concerned about how people without insurance will access the vaccines, as the high season for respiratory illnesses looms. The Biden Administration is seeking permanent funding for routine vaccines for adults, but so far, that has not been realized. As things evolve, we will provide more updates.
Even though the vaccines and some of the programs that offer them are not perfect, vaccination is still one of the best things you can do to protect yourself and your family from COVID-19 in the coming months. Another surge is expected this winter; I am making my appointment as soon as possible.
