People 65 and up should now get another COVID-19 vaccine, CDC recommends – cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio Americans age 65 and older are recommended to get an additional dose of the current one-shot COVID-19 vaccine, the U.S. Centers for Disease and Prevention said this week in updating its vaccine guidelines for the first time since the fall.

Older adults are at increased risk of severe disease from COVID-19, with more than half of COVID-19 hospitalizations from October to December 2023 occurring in adults 65 and older, the CDC said in making the announcement late Wednesday.

The one-shot COVID-19 vaccine became available last fall, and was recommended for everyone age 5 and up to protect against serious illness from COVID-19.

There was no change in the recommendations this week for those under the age of 65, who are still considered up to date if they have received the latest vaccine.

The recommendation, made by the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization and endorsed by CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen, is in part in response to trying to restore protection that may have waned among the most vulnerable.

Most COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations last year were among people 65 years and older, Cohen said in a statement. An additional vaccine dose can provide added protection that may have decreased over time for those at highest risk.

This recommendation is in line with prior recommendations, which allow people who are immunocompromised to receive an additional booster dose of this seasons vaccine, Dr. Kenneth Koncilja, a geriatric specialist with the Cleveland Clinics Center for Geriatric Medicine, said Thursday.

Older adults are still the overwhelming majority of hospitalizations and deaths in Northeast Ohio from COVID-19, Koncilja said.

Older adults and immunocompromised persons typically have less of a response to vaccinations in general, and their immune system is not as resilient as that of healthier or younger people, Koncilja said.

People over 65 remain at risk of infection, severe infection, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19, said Dr. Amy Ray, vice president of infection prevention and hospital epidemiology at MetroHealth System.

Even mild COVID-19 infection can exacerbate chronic underlying health conditions and result in hospitalization in this population, Ray said. The additional dose is an important part of health maintenance for the older population.

The COVID-19 pandemic is still with us, and vaccination is still important, health experts say.

COVID-19 is actively circulating at a higher rate than influenza or respiratory syncytial virus, Koncilja said. By vaccinating everyone, we reduce spread, severity, and duration of COVID-19, he said.

The additional dose should be given at least four months after a previous dose for healthy older adults, or at least three months after a coronavirus infection, according to the Washington Posts reporting of the discussion. Its unclear whether those getting a second shot now will also need another shot for the 2024-25 fall and winter season.

A CDC recommendation means that health insurance will cover the cost of the second shot for those eligible, the newspaper reported. There may be a new vaccine approved for the 2024-25 winter season, the Washington Post noted. In that case, it would not be optimal for people to get a second dose of a current vaccine later than June.

The CDC continues to recommend that everyone stay up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines, especially people with weakened immune systems.

Most adults under 65 who received the single-dose COVID-19 vaccine in the fall are not recommended for a second dose, the Clinics Koncilja said. They have residual immunity from either prior infection or prior vaccination, he said.

Unvaccinated people age 6 months and older may still receive the COVID-19 2023-24 dose, MetroHealths Ray said.

Allowing a second dose may decrease public confidence in the benefits of a single dose of an updated vaccine, the Washington Post reported. It could also increase vaccine fatigue and reduce uptake of the vaccine in the fall.

Despite the introduction of the updated vaccine in the fall, use has been low. About 1.3 million Ohioans have received the updated one-dose COVID-19 vaccine, representing 11.1% of the states population.

In Ohio, residents ages 70-74 have the highest percentage of any age group when it comes to getting the current COVID-19 vaccine, according to state data. About 36.3% of Ohioans ages 70-74 have the vaccine, while 28.0% of those 65-69 and 40.8% of those 75-79 have received the shot.

In the United States, 23% of Medicare beneficiaries ages 65 and up have the current one-shot vaccine, according to the CDC.

Separately, the CDCs instructions to people with COVID-19 also are expected to change soon. New guidance is likely coming that will drop the five-day COVID-19 isolation guidelines, according to previous reports in February.

Under the new guidance, people with mild COVID-19 could stop isolating if they havent had a fever for at least 24 hours without medication, and their symptoms are improving.

It would be the first loosening of the isolation recommendations since 2021. The new guidance would align with how people are told to avoid transmitting flu and other respiratory viruses.

The move is under consideration because most Americans have some immunity to the virus because of prior infection or vaccination. The CDC is shifting to a more practical approach, experts and health officials say.

Julie Washington covers healthcare for cleveland.com. Read previous stories at this link.

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People 65 and up should now get another COVID-19 vaccine, CDC recommends - cleveland.com