(NEXSTAR) – The Food and Drug Administration approved new, updated vaccines against COVID-19 from both Pfizer and Moderna this week, and health officials are recommending everyone 6 months and older get a dose. The question is: when?
The vaccines have been reformulated to target newer strains of the virus that are circulating now, namely the KP.2 subvariant of omicron. That was the most prominent strain earlier this year, but there have been additional mutations since then.
Now, variants like KP.3.1.1, now are spreading, but they're close enough to KP.2 that the updated vaccine promises cross-protection. A Pfizer spokesman said the company submitted data to FDA showing its updated vaccine “generates a substantially improved response” against multiple virus subtypes compared to last fall’s vaccine.
But if you were caught up in the recent wave of COVID infections, and are otherwise healthy, you may be able to procrastinate getting your shot a little longer. The CDC says anyone who recently had COVID-19 can wait three months after they recover before getting vaccinated, until immunity from that infection begins to wane.
If you're benefiting from "natural immunity" from a recent infection, waiting until around October to get the updated booster (along with a flu vaccine) can help better protect you ahead of the peak winter sickness season.
But those who want to get vaccinated sooner are welcome to do so. The CDC says you should wait until all your symptoms are resolved, you're feeling better, and out of isolation before getting boosted.
Several groups are encouraged not to wait long at all, even if they had a case of COVID during the summer surge. People who are immunocompromised, elderly, pregnant or otherwise vulnerable to severe disease from COVID should get vaccinated sooner rather than later, experts say.
"For our older friends, and that seems to be over 75, or people who have chronic diseases – particularly those diseases that would leave somebody in an immunocompromised state … those folks need to really stay up to date on the vaccines and be careful," said Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, chief medical officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital.
In addition to the new Pfizer and Moderna boosters, Novavax also expects to have an updated vaccine on the market soon.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
