New COVID-19 vaccines: When will they be available and who will be eligible to get one?

The emergency period of the covid-19 pandemic is over, but the virus continues to threaten those who are vulnerable, including older persons and people with health conditions which can compromise them. The virus has also not stopped from spreading or evolving.

New covid-19 vaccines: When will they be available and who will be eligible to get one?

New vaccines that have been updated for new variants are expected to be available by mid- to late September. People can sign up to receive them as soon as the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention give them their stamp of approval and their recommendations.

The shots from Moderna, Pfizer, and Novavax are likely to be rolled out in the fall, and almost all children and adults will be eligible to receive them.

READ ALSO: Careful with oven-ready pizzas: this common mistake can turn them toxic

New vaccines for new covid-19 variants

The latest vaccines aim to protect against the XBB variants, particularly EG.5 or Eris, which is one of the fastest-growing descendants of the XBB strain. These originate from the original Omicron strain and are currently the most common type of virus that have been spreading.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says variants such as Eris do not represent a major shift, and that the updated vaccines will offer protection against them.

READ ALSO: Tips to ease paying a large medical bill

EG.5: Variant of interest

The World Health Organization has classified Eris as a “variant of interest”, but added that it did not appear to be a deadlier threat than other variants. This strain is currently circulating in the United States and China, and is estimated to be responsible for approximately 17% of current covid-19 cases in the US.

The WHO is advising the public to take all recommended covid-19 vaccine doses, including booster shots, as indicated by health authorities.