What Is It? Just in time for the viral infection season, a new covid vaccine was released. The Food and Drug Administration approved updated vaccines —mRNA versions from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna shots. They target a covid variant that has been prominent over the summer. Data now shows the mRNA vaccines can even reduce the risk of contracting covid. On average, the mRNA vaccines can cut the risk of having COVID-19 by 60-70% and reduce the risk of getting seriously ill by 80-90%. A third option from Novavax uses an older technology and targets an earlier strain of the virus.
Who Should Get it? The guidelines on who should get the covid vaccines have not changed. They are a good idea for everyone older than 6 months. They are a great idea for folks 65 years and older as well as those with underlying health challenges (like diabetes, immune suppression, and diseases of the heart, kidneys, lungs, etc.).
When Should People Get It? As the virus season looms large on the horizon, now is a great time to get the latest covid vaccine. If you had covid in the past several months, you received an immunity boost from the infection so you can wait a few more months for your covid shot. All the major retail pharmacies have the new mRNA doses. The Novavax version will be available soon. Insured people can get vaccinated for free if they get their shot from an in-network provider. While a federal program that paid for the vaccines for uninsured adults expired (tsk tsk), the uninsured may be able to get the shots for free at some places, such as federally-funded health clinics.
Double Your Fun? Yes! You can get the covid vaccine and flu shot on the same day.
We have scheduled our 5 Minute Flu Shot clinics. These fun and efficient events are free for our patients.
