New COVID vaccine for fall 2024: Who should get it, when and where?
New COVID-19 vaccines are available: who should get them, where can you get them, and how much do they cost?
In late August, the Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA) approved updated Covid-19 booster vaccines for the fall and winter seasons. Following a similar pattern to the seasonal flu, COVID-19 infections peak early in the winter months after the holidays. Vaccines can help reduce the severity of these peaks and the health consequences of mass infection.
As the supply of the new vaccines increases, they will be sent to healthcare companies and pharmacies around the country.
For those with insurance, most plans cover annual Covid-19 and flu shots. Appointments can be made at CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and local pharmacies, but be sure that your injection is the vaccine’s most up-to-date version.
If you are a Kaiser Permanente member, you can schedule an appointment through their network of pharmacies and clinics to get your shot for free.
If you do not have insurance, call your county health department, as they often have vaccination programs that allow one to receive their seasonal injections for a very low price or for free. California Congressman Ro Khana has noted that there are serious issues with the current vaccination system as it leaves those without insurance very vulnerable to illness.
Who should get the new COVID-19 vaccine?
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all people six months and older get the jab this season. Children tend to fight the virus more effectively than older patients, but they can still spread the disease.
When should you get vaccinated?
As soon as possible, says the CDC. The CDC no longer tracks COVID-19 cases, but they have maintained some trackers in place (i.e., hospitalizations, deaths from COVID-19, and wastewater surveillance). Wastewater provides public health officials with an indicator of the level of community spread by the amount of virus found in the samples taken. The CDC reports that “nationally, the wastewater viral activity level for COVID-19 is currently very high,” which indicates that the virus is circulating widely.