The tenacity of the omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus have federal health officials recommending booster shots with a vaccine taking aim at the subvariants.
Pfizer and Moderna have both created an updated vaccine with spike protein components that specifically target BA.4 and BA.5.
“So, what’s important about this new one is that it’s going to provide both the original strain that was used in the original vaccine, but then it’s also has a part of it, that’s going to cover the new variants that are pretty different from the original variant that COVID-19 started out with,” said pharmacy manager Meredith Lopez at Augusta University Health. “So, it’s going to give us protection for the original and then the most prevalent variants right now.”
The Food and Drug Administration amended the Emergency Use Authorization for both companies on Aug. 31 to offer single dose booster shots of the bivalent formulations.
“As we head into fall and begin to spend more time indoors, we strongly encourage anyone who is eligible to consider receiving a booster dose with a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine to provide better protection against currently circulating variants,” said FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert M. Califf.
The Centers Disease Control and Prevention followed that with a Sept. 1 recommendation for the updated booster shot. Pfizer shots are authorized for people 12 years old and older while Moderna can be given to people 18 years old and older.
“The updated COVID-19 boosters are formulated to better protect against the most recently circulating COVID-19 variant,” said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky. “They can help restore protection that has waned since previous vaccination and were designed to provide broader protection against newer variants. This recommendation followed a comprehensive scientific evaluation and robust scientific discussion.”
Dr. Brannon Traxler, public health director for the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, said they are aware some people have concerns about this modification because there have not yet been results from the human clinical trial.
“However, the safety and efficacy of the new boosters were demonstrated using two other methods. There have been clinical trials for which there’s data for very similar booster only different in that it used to be a one spike protein compound that instead of being a four and five, but again, it contained both the original formulation and the omicron version. “
On its website, the Georgia Department of Public Health is also recommending people follow the CDC guidelines for the updated booster shot.
As of Aug. 28, the CDC estimates nearly 90% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. are caused by the BA.4 and BA.5 variants. Just over a million Georgians have died since the pandemic began nearly three years ago.
The CDC is continuing to track cases nationwide based on community levels. Richmond County currently is listed as having a low transmission level. However, Columbia and Aiken counties are ranked in the medium level. The CDC is recommending people use safety measures including staying up-to-date with vaccinations and consider wearing a mask as additional protection, especially indoors in public places.
Lopez said the timing of the new formulation is particularly advantageous as flu season is about to begin.
“You know, we’ve only been doing this with COVID-19 for two and a half, almost three years. So, it’s still very new. But I do think that we know that the vaccine is reducing hospitalizations. We know that the vaccine is working the way we anticipated it to work. So, it’s creating new versions of a vaccine every year to meet the most prevalent variant at the time, and what’s going to keep people healthy and safe. And yes, I think that it is reasonable to say that once a year, we would consider giving a vaccine,” she said.
Traxler agrees and believes that could happen soon.
“I am optimistic it could be as early as for next year, though, some of that will depend on what happens in the next, you know, maybe nine or 10 months. But I know that that is the goal of many people, many public health professionals and physicians and vaccinators across the country is to make this hopefully just a once-a-year booster. And yes, to be able to combine it into the same shot as the flu vaccine,” she said.
Traxler said the new vaccine is currently available, including at some of DHEC’s partners, like CVS and Walgreen pharmacies.
Appointments can be made using DHEC’s on-line tool: https://vaxlocator.dhec.sc.gov/ or by calling 1-855-472-3432 for help with COVID-19 vaccine questions and provider information.
In Georgia, appointments can be made at www.dph.ga.gov/covid-vaccine or www.vaccinefinder.org
Georgia residents who are sick, shut-in or homebound and are unable to travel to a COVID-19 vaccination site can request to receive vaccination at their home.
Email HVS@dph.ga.gov or call (888) 572-0112 and provide information for the person who requires at-home vaccination including name, address, date of birth and a phone number.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a general assignment reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
