2024 Fall Vaccine Updates

2024 FALL VACCINE UPDATES

As we approach the fall, it’s time for another update on vaccines!

COVID:

• The new vaccines were approved by the FDA last week and should be available in pharmacies shortly.  I have ordered the new shots, but have not yet received any and I don’t have an estimate of when they will be delivered. 

• Pfizer and Moderna have updated their mRNA vaccines to target the KP.2 strain, which is closely related to the currently circulating strains. Novavax’s traditional vaccine targets an older subvariant, JN.1, but still provides a good response against current variants and with less side effects.  

• Those at higher risk of myocarditis (ie younger men) should choose Pfizer over Moderna if getting an mRNA vaccine.

• When should you get your booster? 

  • Personally, I plan to wait to get my booster until November; that way, I will have the maximum protection over the holidays and while traveling.

  • If you have had a recent COVID infection, I recommend waiting for at least 4 months before getting a booster.

  • If you received a recent booster you can get the new vaccine after 8 weeks, but I recommend waiting for 4 months.

• You can get your COVID vaccine on the same day as your flu shot; however, as discussed above, you may want to delay the COVID vaccine a bit.  If you do get them separately, there should be at least 2 weeks between vaccines. 

RSV:

• Last winter was the first year the RSV vaccine was available for adults over the age of 60. The CDC estimates that the vaccine prevented ~2500 hospitalizations and 100-200 deaths in older adults.  

• The biggest benefit was seen in adults with heart disease, kidney disease, and those over the age of 75 (there was still benefit for adults over 60 but less so).

• There appears to be an increased risk of developing Guillain-Barre Syndrome (a condition in which the immune system attacks the nerves) after the vaccine.  However, this was only 21 cases out of over 9 million vaccinations. The risk does appear to be less with the vaccine from GSK vs the one from Pfizer.  Moderna is making an mRNA vaccine that does not have the higher risk of Guillain-Barre Syndrome, but it is not yet available.  

• The vaccines are less effective in the second year, but getting a second dose didn’t seem to boost the protection much so at this point, if you were vaccinated last year there is no need to get a booster.  

• Bottom line - benefits appear to outweigh the risks. I recommend the vaccine for everyone 75 yo or older, and those older than 60 if high risk (especially if you have heart or kidney disease or a lung condition).  This is a vaccine that you can get at the pharmacy, but not in my office. 

INFLUENZA:

• Flu shots are now available for the 2024-25 flu season.  For those that like the picky details, the shots this year are trivalent (cover 3 different strains) rather than quadrivalent (cover 4 strains) because one of the strains of influenza B is no longer actively circulating. 

• We can sometimes predict the severity of the upcoming flu season based on data from the southern hemisphere. Most countries seemed to have an average flu season, but South American and Southern African countries did experience higher than normal levels. Not sure what that means for us!

• Generally, I recommend getting the flu shot in late September/early October, unless you’ll be traveling in which case I’d recommend it 2 weeks before your trip (we do have the vaccines in stock now if needed).