Biodefense Headlines – 9 October 2023

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New Vaccine: Who Can Get It And When? Here's What To Know As Omicron Variant Spreads Across US

Liliana Ramos, 43, of Los Angeles, receives a vaccine Oct. 11, 2023, at a Kaiser flu and COVID vaccination clinic in Pasadena, Calif. The new COVID vaccines were formulated to target Omicron variant XBB.1.5, the dominant strain in the U.S. Earlier this year, in preparation for the 2023-2024 fall and winter season.

Francine Orr, Los Angeles Times

MICHELLE MARCHANTE Miami Herald

There hasn't been a big rush to get the new COVID-19 vaccine, according to health experts. Many patients are hesitant to get the shot for a variety of reasons, including vaccine fatigue, fear of side effects and the feeling that COVID is over.

But there's a new variant spreading, and public health agencies and many doctors say the new vaccine, which rolled out in November, can help keep people healthy as the holiday stretch of traveling and gathering winds down. Pharmacies and the drug companies are aggressively pushing the new vaccines in ads and texts.

Here's what to know about the new COVID vaccine:

Who can get the new COVID vaccine?

The Food and Drug Administration approved the new shots for people 12 and older and granted emergency use authorization for kids as young as 6 months. The agency expects the new vaccines will be updated annually like flu shots.

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CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen recommended the shots for everyone 6 months and older to better protect against circulating variants in the country, following the advice of an independent advisory committee.

Joseph Ladapo, the Florida surgeon general who has clashed with federal health officials on masks, vaccines and the state's COVID-19 policies, says the federal government "failed to provide sufficient data to support the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine." He recommends that people under 65 not get the new vaccines and that those 65 and older speak with their doctor.

The FDA, CDC and scores of public health experts say the vaccines are safe, having undergone rigorous testing and monitoring throughout the pandemic — and the benefits far outweigh their risks.

If you decide to get vaccinated, how many shots you need will depend on your age and the timing of your previous dosages.

Does it work against dominant strains?

The new COVID vaccines were formulated to target omicron variant XBB.1.5, which was the dominant strain in the U.S. Earlier this year, in preparation for the 2023-2024 fall and winter season.

Federal health officials say the updated shots will provide good protection against the circulating variants in the country. The current dominant strain in the country is HV.1, which is a descendant of the omicron variant, CDC data show. Health officials are also closely monitoring JN.1, which is the fastest-growing COVID-19 variant in the country, with the variant estimated to make up between 15% and 29% of COVID-19 infections, USA Today reports.

The latest COVID vaccines and treatments are expected to work against the circulating variants.

Where can you get the COVID vaccine? Is it free?

COVID-19 vaccines are available at retail pharmacies across the country, including Publix, CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Winn-Dixie, and Fresco y Más. You can schedule an appointment online or walk in.

Some stores might offer you a deal for getting vaccinated, too. CVS, for example, is offering a $5 off $20 coupon for anyone who gets immunized, including against COVID, flu and RSV, at its stores.

Unlike other COVID vaccines and boosters, the federal government is not paying for the shots, although most insurance companies are expected to cover the vaccine cost. Keep in mind some insurance companies might require you to get vaccinated at an in-network provider.

For people who don't have health insurance, or whose health plans don't cover the costs, free boosters will be available through community health centers, state health departments and pharmacies participating in the CDC's Bridge Access Program. The program will give free COVID-19 vaccines to adults without insurance or whose insurance won't cover all of the vaccine cost through 2024. Children eligible for the "Vaccines for Children" program can also get the vaccine from enrolled providers.

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Does The New COVID Vaccine Work Against The Variant Now Spreading? Who Can Get It Now?

MIAMI — There's no big rush to get the new COVID-19 vaccine, according to health experts. Many patients are hesitant to get the shot for a variety of reasons, including vaccine fatigue, fear of side effects and the feeling that COVID is over.

But there's a new variant spreading, and public health agencies and many doctors say the new vaccine, which rolled out in November, can help keep people healthy during this holiday stretch of traveling and gathering. Pharmacies and the drug companies are aggressively pushing the new vaccines in ads and texts.

Here's what to know about the new COVID vaccine:

Who can get the new COVID vaccine?

The FDA, CDC and scores of public health experts say the vaccines are safe, having undergone rigorous testing and monitoring throughout the pandemic — and the benefits far outweigh their risks.

If you decide to get vaccinated, how many shots you need will depend on your age and the timing of your previous dosages.

Does it work against dominant strains?

The new COVID vaccines were formulated to target Omicron variant XBB.1.5, which was the dominant strain in the U.S. Earlier this year, in preparation for the 2023-2024 fall and winter season.

Federal health officials say the updated shots will provide good protection against the circulating variants in the country. The current dominant strain in the country is HV.1, which is a descendant of the omicron variant, CDC data show. Health officials are also closely monitoring JN.1, which is the fastest-growing COVID-19 variant in the country, with the variant estimated to make up between 15 percent and 29 percent of COVID-19 infections, USA Today reports.

The latest COVID vaccines and treatments are expected to work against the circulating variants.

Where can you get the COVID vaccine? Is it free?

COVID-19 vaccines are available at retail pharmacies across the country, including Publix, CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Winn-Dixie, Fresco y Más. You can schedule an appointment online or walk in.

Some stores might offer you a deal for getting vaccinated, too. CVS, for example, is offering a $5 off $20 coupon for anyone who gets immunized, including against COVID, flu and RSV, at its stores.

What You Need To Know About JN.1, The Latest COVID Variant

By Aliza Rosen and Melissa Hartman

/ Published Jan 12, 2024

In early November 2023, the JN.1 variant caused less than 5% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. Now it is estimated to cause more than 60% of them. Virologists including Andy Pekosz, a professor in the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, are paying attention.

Here, Pekosz explains what virologists are seeing, what this new variant means for case rates and treatments, and why it's so important for more people to get the updated COVID-19 vaccine rolled out this fall.

What is JN.1?

A SARS-CoV-2 variant called BA.2.86 emerged a few months ago and caught virologists' attention because it contains many more mutations—about 30 of them—to evade immunity than any other variant circulating at that time. However, the BA.2.86 variant never came to dominate among the group of SARS-CoV-2 variants that were circulating in the late summer/early fall of 2023. The JN.1 variant is a descendant of BA.2.86 that has acquired the ability to transmit efficiently through an additional one or two mutations. It has the immune evasion of its parent but has now mutated to transmit more efficiently.

What's happening now with this variant?

The increase in the number of cases caused by JN.1 corresponds to an overall increase in COVID-19 cases. Symptoms of JN.1 infection are very similar to those of previous omicron variants, and it doesn't seem to cause more severe disease, either. There is some suggestion that JN.1 may be causing more diarrhea than previous variants, but we don't have any firm data supporting that yet.

What's most important to understand about this variant?

This latest variant should be a reminder that we have tools to fight off COVID infection and minimize severe disease: Tests detect JN.1, the new vaccines protect against severe disease, and antivirals are still capable of treating infection from JN.1. We just have to use these tools more effectively than we have over the last six months.

So far, only 8% of children and 19% of adults have received the latest vaccine, so a lot of people are missing out on protection from this virus.

What does the transmission timeline look like for JN.1?

The period of infectiousness for JN.1 is very similar to that of the other omicron variants that have been circulating over the past year: You are contagious one to two days before your symptoms begin, and you are still contagious for at least two to three days after your symptoms begin—though some people can continue to have the detectable live virus for up to a week after symptom onset. After exposure, it may take five days or more before you begin to develop symptoms.

Are people who had an older vaccine or who've had COVID from another variant likely to be reinfected by JN.1?

The older vaccines were based on SARS-CoV-2 variants that are very different from variants circulating now. That, combined with the fact that your immunity from vaccination or infection tends to drop off over time, means that you won't get a lot of protection from COVID-19 if you are relying on the vaccines you received nearly a year ago. It's very similar to why we have annual influenza vaccines: The virus is changing, so we have to change the vaccine to make sure it is a good match with the virus variants that are causing infection right now.

Do we know yet how well this fall's COVID-19 vaccines work against this variant?

While the JN.1 variant does have a number of mutations that help it avoid immunity, laboratory studies suggest that the updated COVID-19 vaccine does increase the amount of antibodies that can recognize JN.1, and it is still effective in protecting against severe disease. You really need the newest COVID-19 vaccine formulation to be protected from severe illness from JN.1 and other recent variants.

COVID numbers have been rising for a few weeks now. Is it too late to get the vaccine?

No. Getting vaccinated now can provide protection during this surge. Don't wait. This is particularly important for those in high-risk groups, but it goes for all eligible individuals.

Is Paxlovid effective against JN.1?

Paxlovid is still working very well, particularly in high-risk populations, but it's not being prescribed as frequently as it should be. It's important to remember that Paxlovid needs to be taken as soon as possible after symptoms begin, within five days of symptom onset is the guidance, but the earlier, the better. This means it is particularly important to test when you start feeling sick and then get a prescription if you test positive.

What might we expect in terms of case rates over the next few weeks?

Case rates will likely go up. We're coming out of a period when we already expected transmission to go up, due to increased travel and holiday gatherings. For the rest of January and into February, we will continue to have a high amount of respiratory virus activity that includes COVID-19 cases. Now is the time to get vaccinated if you haven't already, get some COVID-19 tests available for free from the U.S. Government, and make sure your local pharmacy can fill a COVID-19 antiviral prescription if you do end up testing positive.

This article originally appeared on the Bloomberg School of Public Health website.

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