Category: Vaccine

A month after a CDC panel narrowed its recommendations for who should receive vaccines to protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Airfinity has put numbers to the impact, reducing the projected market value in the United States by 64% by the end of the decade.

The London-based healthcare analytics company has sliced the RSV market value for seniors in the US from $4.7 billion to $1.7 billion in 2030.

Last year, when RSV vaccines debuted, the CDC recommended that people age 60 and older should receive a shot. But in a surprise move four weeks ago, the CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted unanimously to recommend a single lifetime dose for those age 75 and older.

As for people ages 60-74, RSV vaccines were recommended only for those who have underlying conditions that leave them vulnerable to severe disease. Additionally, the experts delayed an expected recommendation for RSV shots for people ages 50-59 with underlying conditions.

Last year, the market size for RSV shots for older adults in the US was $2.4 billion. With the new recommendations, Airfinity projects the market size to slide this year to $2.2 billion.

The analysts say the new recommendations reduce the eligible population in the US by 44% to 46 million. Under the previous recommendation, Airfinity saw sales from older adults reaching $3.7 billion in 2024.

The ACIPs skittishness on RSV vaccines came following reports of theirpotential linkto the rare neurological disorder Guillain-Barr syndrome (GBS). Earlier this year, health officials flagged a preliminary statistical analysis that discovered 23 of the 9.5 million older adults who received an RSV vaccine developed GBS.

The ACIP recommendations will likely stunt revenue growth in the US market unless new data can support the benefit of booster shots, Isabella Huettner, Airfinitys RSV analyst, said in a statement.

Airfinity projected that the new CDC recommendations amount to $300 million in lost revenue for GSK. In early June, the FDA expanded the label for GSKs vaccine Arexvy to people ages 50-59 with underlying conditions. The company used a valuable priority review voucher to speed the agencys decision. But the approval carries little weight until the CDC expands its recommendation to the age group.

GSK, which has projected peak sales of its RSV vaccine to reach 3 billion pounds ($3.8 billion), saw a 7% tumble in its share price when the new ACIP recommendations were released. Last year, Arexvy racked up $1.6 billion in sales, compared to $890 million for Pfizers RSV vaccine Abrysvo.

Meanwhile, with a May approval for its RSV vaccine, Moderna has entered the market. In June, the companys shares dropped 11% when it reported 50% efficacy for mRESVIA after 18 months. That compares to 79% and 78% efficacy for Arexvy and Abrysvo, respectively, after two years.

Moderna has two advantages with its shot however as it has not been linked to GBS and it comes in a pre-filled syringewhich is more attractive to physicians.

Much still has to be decided related to RSV vaccines. Airfinity pointed out that future dosing recommendations could change as long-term efficacy and safety data emerge. With recommendations for a booster every two to three years, the U.S. market could increase in annual value to between $5.2 billion and $6.6 billion, Airfinity projects.

Based on current data, GSK appears to be most likely to capture the majority of the market in the long term, due to promising efficacy and durability, Huettner added. And, while the safety concerns remain until more data become available, GSK appears to have lower Guillain-Barr Syndrome rates than Pfizer.

This will be another telling year for RSV uptake as GSK, Pfizer and Moderna launch their shots for the first time in the UK, Canada and the major markets in Europe.

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With new CDC recommendations, RSV market's long-term value falls sharply in US: Airfinity - FiercePharma

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says most people are eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations.

People 5 and older should get one dose of the updated vaccine, regardless of how many and which vaccines they previously received. Children 6 months to 4 years old may need more than one shot, depending on their age and vaccination status, according toCDC recommendations.

You will need two shots given three weeks apart for a full primary series. You may get a single dose if youve been previously vaccinated and have not received an updated Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccine.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine isno longer availablein the U.S.

The CDC recommends that adults 65 and older get a dose of the 2023/2024 vaccine for added protection, as long as its been at least four months since the last shot.

People with compromised immune systems may receive additional doses, depending on their vaccination history. More information is available at theCDCs website.

Vaccines are administered at retail pharmacies, including Walgreens, Walmart and CVS, clinics and other locations, such as doctors offices. Use the federal governments website Vaccines.gov to search for vaccination sites by ZIP code. Get the same information by texting your ZIP code to 438829 or by calling 800-232-0233. You can check with your primary care physicians office to see if COVID-19 vaccinations are offered. If you are a veteran, the Department of Veterans Affairs offers COVID-19 vaccinations at VA facilities. Sign up online or call 800-827-1000 to make an appointment.

More information about COVID-19 vaccines is available on the Georgia Department of Public Health's website. Or you can visit the health departments Facebook page or call 404-657-2700. The health department allows you to check your state immunization record online.

The federal government is no longer covering the cost of the vaccines, but most people with Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance will not have to pay.

Children 18 and younger may qualify to receive no-cost or low-cost vaccines through the federal Vaccines for Children Program.

Its safe and effective to receive an updated Pfizer, Moderna or Novavax vaccine at least two months after your last dose no matter which brand youve received, including Johnson & Johnson.

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The updated vaccines only target one strain of the omicron variant, called XBB.1.5, and are recommended by the CDC to protect against more recently circulating strains of the virus. The bivalent boosters, released in 2022, targeted the original strain of the virus and two omicron subvariants, BA.4 and BA.5. The Novavax booster targeted only the original strain of the virus.

Vaccine manufacturers are once again working to update the vaccines for the 2024-2025 respiratory virus season. The redesigned shots, which should be available in the fall, will target a strain of the virus that is causing a significant share of infections this summer.

Some vaccination sites ask for proof of identity or eligibility. Bring a drivers license or other state-issued ID that shows your name, age and state of residency, along with your health insurance card.

The CDC no longer distributes vaccine cards, andthey are not required to receive a vaccine. If youve lost your vaccine card, you can call the site where you were vaccinated to request a new one or a copy of your vaccination record.

You also can request your immunization record on the Georgia Department of Public Healths website, or contact your countys public health department.

Its common to experience mild to moderate side effects after getting vaccinated, such as soreness in the arm, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, nausea, fever or chills but these are temporary and normal signs that your body is building protection, the CDC says.

A small number of vaccine recipients have experienced adverse reactions to the shots.

According to the CDC, it is safe to receive the flu vaccine and updated COVID-19 vaccines simultaneously, although you are a little more likely to experience side effects, such as a headache and fatigue. Adults 75 or older (and those 60 to 74 with certain underlying health conditions) who are encouraged to get the RSV vaccine may receive that at the same time as the others, but some health experts suggestspacing them out. If you had the RSV vaccine last year, you dont need another one this year.

Contact your health care provider for more information.

The U.S. government no longer distributes COVID-19 vaccines to long-term care facilities. That means nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other long-term care settings are responsible for coordinating COVID-19 vaccination programs for their residents and staff. Most long-term care facilities have partnerships with pharmacies or health departments to provide vaccines for flu, COVID-19 and other illnesses.

Long-term care facilities that receive Medicare and/or Medicaid dollars are also required byfederal lawto educate residents, their representatives and staff about COVID-19 vaccines and offer a COVID-19 vaccine to residents, resident representatives and staff.

All vaccines reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections and are highly effective at preventing severe illness and death from the disease. No vaccine is 100 percent effective, and infections can still occur postvaccination.

Be aware that scammers often purport to offer COVID-19 vaccines and treatments and try to charge for them. The AARP Fraud Watch Network is tracking the latest scams.

Georgia residents who believe theyve encountered a COVID-19 scam can report it to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General by calling 800-447-8477 or by submitting a complaint online.

Editors note: This guide was last published Oct. 6, 2023, and has been updated with new information.

Natalie Missakian covers federal and state policy, and writes AARPs Fighting for You Every Day blog. She previously worked as a reporter for the New Haven Register and daily newspapers in Ohio. She has also written for the AARP Bulletin, the Hartford Business Journal and other publications.

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How and Where to Get COVID-19 Vaccines in Georgia - AARP States

On Monday, the USDA will start distributing the bait first by vehicle inEast Palestine, Hubbard, Lisbon, Warren, and Youngstown. During the second week of August, USDA staff will use a helicopter to disperse bait in Cortland, East Liverpool, Salem, Steubenville, Warren, and Youngstown.The department will utilize an airplane to distribute baits from August 17th to 22nd in portions ofColumbiana, Mahoning, and Trumbull counties.

Read more here:

Monday start for rabies vaccine drops in the Valley - WFMJ

29 July 2024 Responsible Seafood Advocate

UVAXX has successfully developed the first vaccine to protect barramundi, also called Asian sea bass, from the Scale Drop Disease Virus (SDDV).

SDDV has led to severe losses for fish farmers, particularly in Southeast Asia. This virus makes fish lose their scales, develop skin lesions and can cause high death rates, sometimes up to 70 percent among both young and adult fish. UVAXX, a subsidiary of Barramundi Group and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), says the new vaccine could be a game-changer for the industry.

Through our 12 years of experience working with farmers to provide veterinary services and fish health solutions, we have witnessed the severity and devastation caused by SDDV, wrote representatives in a LinkedIn post. Until today, there are no commercially available solutions. We are proud to be on track to be the first to bring the solution to market.

The vaccine is designed to protect fish from SDDV by using specific virus components, called epitopes, that stimulate the fishs immune system. This approach is intended to boost the fishs natural defenses against the virus.

Derived from pathogen proteins, the epitopes are the targets of specific arm of the immune system such as antibodies that neutralize viral particles, and killer cells to directly eliminate infected cells and regulate the immune responses, said Professor Renia Laurent Claude Stphane, A*STAR senior fellow in a press release. In many ways, this epitope-based vaccine design is novel for the aquaculture sector and we are energized and committed to identify more use cases of this technology together with UVAXX.

UVAXX reports that the vaccine has a 75 percent effectiveness rate and will be incorporated into standard practices at hatcheries and fish farms. With no existing commercial solutions for SDDV, the team at UVAXX and A*STAR is set to be the first to offer this new remedy.

Efficacious vaccines remain the most critical tool for enabling a paradigm shift in aquaculture disease management from a reactive to a preventative approach and transforming farm production unit economics, wrote representatives on LinkedIn.

Before taking the vaccine to market, the next phase is to run large-scale field trials with local farms, evaluate the vaccines safety and effectiveness, set up the manufacturing process and obtain regulatory approval.

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UVAXX develops first vaccine to protect barramundi from Scale Drop Disease Virus - Global Seafood Alliance

CANTON St. Lawrence County is preparing for its annual oral rabies vaccine (ORV) distribution, an essential initiative. ORV baits will be distributed by air throughout St. Lawrence County from August 2 through August 6.

Bait distribution in New York is part of a nationwide, cooperative effort by USDA to prevent the westward spread of rabies in the eastern US. This will distribute approximately 622,800 oral rabies vaccine bait in the St. Lawrence Valley Region.

The bait resembles a fast-food ketchup package, includes a vaccine wrapped in a plastic packet that is dipped in fish oil and coated with fish-meal crumbles to attract target wildlife. The vaccine has been proven safe when given to more than 60 species of mammals and birds.

Residents who come in contact with wildlife vaccine packets can call the NYSDOH Rabies Information Line (888) 574-6656 with questions or concerns.

For more information, call the St. Lawrence County Public Health Department at (315) 386-2325.

Always notify your medical provider or SLCPHD if you are bitten by a pet or a wild animal. Additionally, keep your pets up to date on their rabies vaccination, and make sure your home is bat proof.

SLCPHD will be hosting free rabies vaccination clinics throughout the remainder of the year.

The clinic dates and locations are listed at

https://stlawco.gov/Departments/PublicHealth/RabiesControl.

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Oral rabies vaccine airdrop for wildlife populations will begin in early August - North Country Now

SAVANNAH, Ga (WSAV) Many students across the Coastal Empire are heading back to the classrooms, and there are certain immunization requirements needed before hitting the books.

To keep students healthy during the school year, the state of Georgia requires students to get certain vaccines against diseases.

News 3 met with Memorial Health Pediatrician Dr. Ashley Cheek, who stressed the importance of keeping students shot record up to date.

Most of the schools are cracking down and not allowing entry without these shots being updated, so checks are really important, Dr. Cheek said.

The measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) are a few required vaccines.

According to Dr. Cheek, a lot of vaccines and boosters are recommended and performed once children turn 4-years-old.

Another thing that is important is that an 11-year-old well-child check is important because it also updates the tetanus shot provides the opportunity for the meningococcal vaccine and the hpv vaccine. Hpv vaccines help prevent cancer.

Dr. Cheek emphasized how important annual check-ups are and it helps with last minute stress before the first bell of the school year rings.

If your first-time student is getting ready for pre-k there is the hearing, dental and eyesight check certification too.

Traditionally, its annual, Dr. Cheek said. As long as they come in with their annual visits on time, theyll be able to have everything updated.

For a list of required Georgia vaccines, visit here. For a list of required vaccines in South Carolina, visit here.

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Local doctor reminds parents to get kids vaccinated before school begins - WSAV-TV

(Precision Vaccinations News)

GSK plc today announced that the European Medicines Agencys Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended expanding the approval of GSKs respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine Arexvy for the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by RSV from adults aged 60 and above to include adults aged 50-59 years at increased risk for RSV disease.

GSK said in a press release on July 29, 2024, that todays positive opinionis the first time that CHMP has recommended an indication for adults aged 50-59 for an RSV vaccine. The European Commissions final decision is expected by September 2024.

The U.S. FDA approved Arexvy for adults aged 50-59 at increased risk of RSV in June 2024.

Since June 2023,Arexvy has been approved in Europe for adults aged 60 and over to prevent RSV-LRTD.

GSK has also filed regulatory submissions to expand the use of its RSV vaccine to adults aged 50-59 at increased risk in Japan and other geographies, with regulatory decisions undergoing review.

Trials evaluating the immunogenicity and safety of the vaccine in adults aged 18-49 at increased risk due to certain underlying medical conditions and in immunocompromised adults aged 18 and over are expected to read out in H2 2024.

Adults with underlying medical conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, heart failure,and diabetes, are at increased risk for severe consequences from an RSV infection. RSV can exacerbate these conditions and lead to pneumonia, hospitalization, or death.

In the United States, three approved RSV vaccines are available in July 2024.

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RSV Vaccine Receives Positive Opinion for Europeans Aged 50-59 at Risk for RSV - Precision Vaccinations

Vaccinations have provided significant protection for the public against infectious diseases. However, there was a modest decrease in support in 2023 nationwide for vaccine requirements for children to attend public schools.

In addition, the presidential candidacy of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a leading critic of childhood vaccination, has given him a prominent platform in which to amplify his views. This includes an extensive interview on the Joe Rogan Experience, a podcast with over 14 million subscribers. Notably, former President Donald Trump has said he is opposed to mandatory school COVID-19 vaccinations, and in a phone call Trump apparently wasnt aware was being recorded, he appeared to endorse Kennedys views toward vaccines.

I am a biochemist and molecular biologist studying the roles microbes play in health and disease. I also teach medical students and am interested in how the public understands science.

Here are some facts about vaccines that skeptics like Kennedy get wrong:

Public health data from 1974 to the present conclude that vaccines have saved at least 154 million lives worldwide over the past 50 years. Vaccines are also constantly monitored for safety in the U.S.

Nevertheless, the false claim that vaccines cause autism persists despite study after study of large populations throughout the world showing no causal link between them.

Claims about the dangers of vaccines often come from misrepresenting scientific research papers. Kennedy cites a 2005 report allegedly showing massive brain inflammation in monkeys in response to vaccination, when in fact the authors of that study state that there were no serious medical complications. A separate 2003 study that Kennedy claimed showed a 1,135% increase in autism in vaccinated versus unvaccinated children actually found no consistent significant association between vaccines and neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Kennedy also claims that a 2002 vaccine study included a control group of children 6 months of age and younger who were fed mercury-contaminated tuna sandwiches. This claim is false.

Kennedy is co-counsel with a law firm that is suing the pharmaceutical company Merck based in part on the unfounded assertion that the aluminum in one of its vaccines causes neurological disease. Aluminum is added to many vaccines as an adjuvant to strengthen the bodys immune response to the vaccine, thereby enhancing the bodys defense against the targeted microbe.

The law firms claim is based on a 2020 report showing that brain tissue from some patients with Alzheimers disease, autism and multiple sclerosis have elevated levels of aluminum. The authors of that study do not assert that vaccines are the source of the aluminum, and vaccines are unlikely to be the culprit.

Notably, the brain samples analyzed in that study were from 47- to 105-year-old patients. Most people are exposed to aluminum primarily through their diets, and aluminum is eliminated from the body within days. Therefore, aluminum exposure from childhood vaccines is not expected to persist in those patients.

Clinical trials for vaccines and other drugs are blinded, randomized and placebo-controlled studies. For a vaccine trial, this means that participants are randomly divided into one group that receives the vaccine and a second group that receives a placebo saline solution. The researchers carrying out the study, and sometimes the participants, do not know who has received the vaccine or the placebo until the study has finished. This eliminates bias.

Results are published in the public domain. For example, vaccine trial data for COVID-19, human papilloma virus and rotavirus is available for anyone to access.

Kennedys lawsuit against Merck contradicts his insistence that vaccine manufacturers are fully immune from litigation.

His claim is based on an incorrect interpretation of the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, or VICP. VICP is a no-fault federal program created to reduce frivolous lawsuits against vaccine manufacturers, which threaten to cause vaccine shortages and a resurgence of vaccine-preventable disease.

A person claiming injury from a vaccine can petition the U.S. Court of Federal Claims through the VICP for monetary compensation. If the VICP petition is denied, the claimant can then sue the vaccine manufacturer.

The majority of cases resolved under the VICP end in a negotiated settlement between parties without establishing that a vaccine was the cause of the claimed injury. Kennedy and his law firm have incorrectly used the payouts under the VICP to assert that vaccines are unsafe.

The VICP gets the vaccine manufacturer off the hook only if it has complied with all requirements of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and exercised due care. It does not protect the vaccine maker from claims of fraud or withholding information regarding the safety or efficacy of the vaccine during its development or after approval.

Kennedy asserts that populations with adequate nutrition do not need vaccines to avoid infectious diseases. While it is clear that improvements in nutrition, sanitation, water treatment, food safety and public health measures have played important roles in reducing deaths and severe complications from infectious diseases, these factors do not eliminate the need for vaccines.

After World War II, the U.S. was a wealthy nation with substantial health-related infrastructure. Yet, Americans reported an average of 1 million cases per year of now-preventable infectious diseases.

Vaccines introduced or expanded in the 1950s and 1960s against diseases like diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles, polio, mumps, rubella and Haemophilus influenza type B have resulted in the near or complete eradication of those diseases.

Its easy to forget why many infectious diseases are rarely encountered today. The success of vaccines does not always tell its own story. It must be retold again and again to counter misinformation.

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Vaccines tell a success story that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Trump forget here are some key reminders - The Conversation Indonesia

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Health care workers will be required to report their immunization status for major diseases like COVID-19, flu and chicken pox.

Published Jul 26, 2024 Last updated 1day ago 5 minute read

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More than two thousand B.C. health-care workers who lost their jobs because they refused a COVID-19 vaccine will now be allowed to return to work, after the B.C. government announced it was ending the public health emergency.

Dr.BonnieHenry, the provincial health officer, made the announcement Friday morning in Victoria along with Health Minister Adrian Dix.

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Henry said they were rescinding the public health emergency and lifting all the remaining orders, including the vaccine mandate that was brought in in 2021 for health-care workers.

We have reached the point in this journey that weve been on where I am confident that we can now lift the requirements of the public health emergency effective immediately, she said.

She acknowledged the decision would make some people anxious and encouraged all British Columbians to continue to get vaccinated against the illness.

Dix also announced a provincial regulation requiring all health workers to report their immunization status for all high priority pathogens of relevance. That means doctors, nurses and other health professionals will be required to report their vaccination status for COVID, influenza, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, whooping cough and chickenpox.

The requirement will be phased in, beginning with the collection of immunity status records of all new hires and health-care workers terminated due to noncompliance with previous orders.

While immunization will not be a requirement of employment, in the event of an outbreak health-care workers who are not immunized may be the subject of other action to ensure the safety of them, their coworkers and patients, said Dix.

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He said that action during an outbreak could include masking, modified duties or exclusion from work.

Henry said this new requirement is an important step to keep vaccinerates high and the continued protection of health-care workers.

The data show that having that vaccine mandate in our health-care system made a huge difference in protecting people and in the confidence in our system, in our health care, said Henry.

With the understanding of how important immunization has been in getting us through this worst crisis that weve ever faced is an opportunity to focus on all of the vaccine preventable diseases that we know can have a horrendous disruptive effect.

Some B.C. mayors had been calling on the province to end the vaccine mandate for health workers because of the critical understaffing at hospitals and closure of some emergency rooms. This was a call supported by both Opposition Leader Kevin Falcon and Conservative Leader John Rustad.

Dix dismissed suggestions that Fridays announcement was political, saying the decision was made looking at the data for COVID infection.

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Henry said the decision was made looking at a variety of data from testing infection rates, outbreaks and to the number of people in ICU.

We look at the vulnerability in certain populations, particularly people who are more likely to have severe disease from COVID-19, and we look at the evolution of the virus, she said, adding the dominant strain is a relatively stable variant of Omicron.

Henry has previously said that health-care workers who dont believe in the effectiveness of vaccines should think about a different career and on Friday stood by that statement.

Immunization is one of the most important global public health measures that we have that has increased life expectancy, protected children, protected vulnerable people in our health-care system. And we all know that if youre in a hospital, you dont have a choice of who is caring for you. You dont have a choice of whos coming in to do tests on you, she said, adding that she believes its morally the right thing to do to protect vulnerable people in their care.

The provincial public health order required the about 190,000 health-care workers in hospitals, long-term care homes and community health centres in B.C. to be vaccinated for COVID. The B.C. Public Service Agency also required its 30,000 employees to be vaccinated.

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Almost 2,500 health-care workers were terminated for not getting a vaccination to work in B.C.s hospital system, and almost half of them worked in the Interior and Northern health authorities, according to B.C. government data released in 2022.

Earlier this year, a court case from 15 health-care workers challenging the mandate was dismissed in B.C. Supreme Court. They had unsuccessfully argued the continuation of the mandate was an unreasonable exercise of the powers of the health officer.

Falcon, who is also the leader of B.C. United, has been pushing the government to scrap the vaccine mandate for more than two years, asking Premier David Eby and Dix to provide the science to back up their decision.

Ive emphasized the fact that we were the only jurisdiction in North America still punishing these critically needed workers all to no avail, he said. So, what changed? Did some new science magically appear? Or is a looming election the only reason theyve shifted direction? You can decide for yourself, but the damage to our health-care system and the impact on the fired workers will take much longer to heal. Thats what happens when ideology trumps evidence.

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Falcon then called for Dix to be fired.

Rustad called the delay in removing vaccine mandates for health-care workers a failure of leadership.

In a statement Friday, he said B.C. was the only province in the country still enforcing what he called outdated restrictions.

The NDPs delayed response to lift these mandates is a clear example of their failure to listen to the concerns of our health-care workers, said Rustad.

Some vaccine status information was previously collected by health authorities but it now will be collected through a provincial registry to ensure reporting is consistent throughout B.C., the government said.

The government says reporting vaccination status aligns with health-care workers ethical and moral duties to take science-based measures, such as vaccination, to reduce the risk of harm to people in their care.

With files from Susan Lazaruk and Katie DeRosa

ticrawford@postmedia.com

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COVID-19: Emergency ends, vaccine mandates lifted for health-care workers in B.C. - Vancouver Sun

The U.S. currently uses three COVID-19 vaccines: Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax. All are safe and effective against the coronavirus, especially in preventing hospitalization and death.

However, you may wonder which of these vaccines is best for you. The answer depends on many factors, including your age and overall health. Keep reading to learn more.

The following summary shows the latest vaccination guidelines for the three currently approved COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. Data is based on the 2023 to 2024 guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Note that the 2024 to 2025 guidelines are expected to come out in the fall of 2024 and may differ.

Learn more: How the different types of COVID-19 vaccines work

When COVID-19 vaccines were first introduced, the general rule of thumb was that the best vaccine was the one that you could get now.

However, at the beginning of 2022, the CDC updated its vaccine recommendations to state that the two mRNA vaccines Pfizer and Moderna were preferred over the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine.

The J&J vaccine has since been discontinued. In 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized a protein subunit vaccine called Novavax.

Today, the CDC recommends any of these three COVID-19 vaccines if you follow the recommended dosing and schedule.

So, which is better?

MRNA vaccines tell your body how to make the necessary protein to fight a virus.

Clinical trials for the two mRNA vaccines found that both Pfizer and Moderna were safe and had similar effectiveness: 95% for Pfizer and 94.1% for Moderna.

The similar effectiveness of these vaccines also extends into a real-world setting.

A 2022 study examined vaccine effectiveness in U.S. veterans vaccinated between January and May 2021. While the two vaccines were comparable, the Moderna vaccine prevented symptomatic infection and hospitalization slightly more effectively than the Pfizer vaccine.

Note that the effectiveness between the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines might vary depending on the coronavirus variant.

For example, a 2022 study of the Pfizer vaccine against the Omicron variant found that vaccine effectiveness was 67.2% in the 2 to 4 weeks after a booster but declined to 45.7% after 10 or more weeks.

Another 2022 study of the Moderna vaccine against the Omicron variant found that vaccine effectiveness was 71.6% in the 14 to 60 days after a booster but declined to 47.4% after 60 days.

That said, the FDA now approves updated versions of these vaccines annually to target newer virus variants.

Protein subunit vaccines are a direct injection of a modified protein that stimulates the immune system to make antibodies and T cells to fight a virus.

A 2023 study compared the effectiveness of mRNA and protein subunit vaccines. Researchers found that all the newer vaccines are at least 90% effective regardless of how they work.

However, a 2023 study suggests that Novavax may cause fewer side effects than mRNA vaccines.

Some research suggests that mixing mRNA and protein subunit vaccines might result in a better immune response and, therefore, better protectiveness. For example, a 2023 animal study in mice examined mixing mRNA and protein subunit vaccines against influenza strains and found good effectiveness.

However, the CDC only recommends mixing vaccines in specific circumstances:

As with adults, there isnt a clear answer as to which vaccine is better for your child.

The CDC recommends that everyone 5 years old and older be vaccinated against COVID-19. Currently, the Pfizer and Modera vaccines are recommended for children over 6 months old, whereas Novavax is intended for only those over 12 years old.

Research shows that the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are generally safe for children. Lower doses have been deemed safe for children ages 6 months to 5 years.

While children have a higher chance of developing myocarditis related to mRNA vaccines, this risk is now considered low. Its also lower than the risk of getting the condition from COVID-19 itself for most age groups. Extending the time between doses to 8 weeks helps improve immune response and reduce this risk.

A 2023 clinical study also found that Novavax caused mostly mild adolescent reactions. Reactions were only slightly stronger after the second dose. The efficacy was 79.5%.

However, since Novavax is relatively new, this clinical trial is still ongoing, and the data may change.

One 2023 study in Australia found that COVID-19 vaccines were highly effective in preventing deaths among older Australians during the peak of the Omicron variant outbreak in 2022. However, after 6 months of receiving the booster, effectiveness dropped to around 50%.

This highlights the importance of getting additional boosters in this age group, especially those released to target newer virus variants.

Multiple studies confirm the effectiveness of vaccination in older adults.

When it comes to which is best, a 2023 study comparing Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in older adults found that the Moderna vaccine was associated with slightly fewer side effects than Pfizer in this age group.

A 2024 study compared mRNA and protein subunit vaccines in Taiwan. Researchers found that in people over 65 years old who were given three vaccine doses, both vaccine types provided comparable protection against death. The effectiveness rates against death were:

Therefore, which vaccine is preferable to someone in this age group might ultimately be based on personal preference.

People who are immunocompromised have an increased risk of severe illness or death due to COVID-19. This includes people who:

As with adults and children, the CDC now recommends any of the three vaccine options for immunocompromised people so long as the specific recommendations on age and number of doses are followed.

A 2021 study examined the effectiveness of two mRNA vaccine doses in immunocompromised people. It found that the Pfizer vaccine was 71% effective, and the Moderna vaccine was 81% effective. However, this difference isnt considered statistically significant.

That said, a 2022 meta-analysis of 82 studies found that antibody response rates in immunocompromised people may be lower than in those who are not immunocompromised. This means immunocompromised people usually need more doses to develop enough antibodies against the coronavirus.

However, this study did not examine the Novavax vaccine.

A 2022 review article also states that an additional dose may raise antibody response rates from 41% to 67%. However, researchers also note there may be significant variation between different groups of immunocompromised people.

A 2023 randomized placebo trial with adults 18 to 84 years old found that Novavax was generally 82.7% effective. Its efficacy was 100% for severe disease. That said, the study didnt examine efficacy in immunocompromised participants.

The COVID-19 vaccine schedule for immunocompromised people differs slightly from the schedule for the larger population. The table below shows the CDCs current vaccine recommendations for immunocompromised individuals.

To be protected from COVID-19, its important to stay current on your COVID-19 vaccines. But what exactly does this mean?

According to the CDC, youre up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines when youve received both your primary vaccine series and your booster dose.

If youve received only your primary vaccine series, you are considered fully vaccinated but not current.

Note that if you have a compromised immune system, your doctor may also recommend taking pemivibart (Pemgarda).

The FDA recently authorized this monoclonal antibody medication in 2024 to help people who may not be able to build enough of an immune response from a vaccine.

Overall, receiving any of the currently available COVID-19 vaccines is better than not getting vaccinated. This is because all of the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective at protecting you from serious illness and death due to COVID-19.

What brand and type of vaccine you prefer largely depends on your age and preferences. Be sure to talk with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about COVID-19 vaccination.

Originally posted here:

Which COVID-19 Vaccine Is Best: For Adults, Children & More - Healthline