This year’s updated Covid-19 vaccine has been confirmed by the US Food and Drug Administration for people aged 65 and older and younger with certain medical conditions, causing them to have a higher risk of severe Covid-19 infections.
Although federal officials emphasized that people who want a Covidid-19 vaccine may receive one by consulting a doctor, a narrower approval may limit access to shots for some people who were regularly able to get them in the past.
Here’s what to know about the updated Covid-19 vaccine.
Who can get the Covid-19 vaccine?
“The FDA has now announced a marketing permit for those with a higher risk: Modern (6 months and more), Pfizer (5+) and Novavax (12+). These vaccines are available to all patients who choose to see them with their doctors, ”said Robert F. Kennedy Jr., US Secretary of Health and Human Services this week.
According to the data of US Disease Control and Prevention Centers, the conditions that lead to a higher risk of heavy Covidid-19 include:
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Some chronic lung diseases
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Some chronic liver disease
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Disability including Down syndrome
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Mood disorders including depression and schizophrenia
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Current or recent pregnancy
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Primary immunodeficiency
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Current or former smoking
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Recipients of solid organs or blood stem cells
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Use of immunosuppressive drugs
Many of these conditions can affect the immune system so significantly that they suppress the body’s ability to fight Covidid-19 infection, increasing the risk of that infection that causes severe disease or death.
These basic conditions will force about 100 million to 200 million people in the US if the FDA commissioner Dr. Marty Makary and Dr. Vinay Prasad, Director of the FDA Biological Assessment and Research Center, wrote FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary and dr. Vinay Prasad. Editorial office In May, New England’s Medical Medical Journal.
When and where will the vaccines be?
The Covid-19 vaccine is expected to be available at many pharmacies and doctors’ offices in the US this fall.
Both Pfizer/Biontech and Modern said their upgraded Covid-19 vaccines should be available on the coming days.
Pfizer and Biontech said their Covid-19 vaccine “will start immediately and will be available in pharmacies, hospitals and clinics” throughout the country.
John C. Jacobs, president and CEO of Vaccine Maker Novavax, said in a press release that “he will work with our partner Sanofi to provide access to protein-based non-MRNA Covid-19 vaccines for the right individuals.”
The CVS pharmacy location expects to get up to date with the Covid-19 vaccines, said Amy Thibault.
“We will administer the FDA authorized Covid-19 vaccines in the states where the CVS pharmacy and / or minutes to meet the needs of our patients,” Thibault said in an email.
However, CVS in some states does not yet offer vaccinations to the Covid-19, even if someone meets the eligibility criteria. The pharmaceutical network has argued that it is complying with state -level pharmacy rules and that in some states, pharmacists are prohibited from giving vaccines, which are not recommended by the CDC Advisory Immunization Practice Committee. This group of independent vaccine advisers is expected to meet on September 18-19.
CVS said on Friday that it does not offer Covidid-19, 16 states and Washington, DC for the current regulatory environment: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Northern Carolina, Virginia and Virginia and Virginia and Virginia and Virginia.
In all, except for three of those states-Masačusetts, Nevada and New Mexico-CVS pharmacy, depending on the patient’s age, may be given Covidid-19 vaccination depending on the patient’s age.
Walgreens email The letter also stated that most of its pharmacies are preparing to offer a Covid-19 vaccine, where regulations allow.
“Walgreens is ready to offer a vaccine in the states where we can do it. Based on the FDA approval and state requirements, we will offer a vaccine for all adults aged 65 and older, as well as persons under 65 years of age with a higher risk of heavy results from the Covid-19,
Most Covidid-19 vaccines in the US occurred in pharmacies. According to CDC, the 2023-24 respiratory virus season was made 71.5% of pharmacies or pharmacies, followed by about 9.2% in clinics or health centers.
Can children and pregnant people get a vaccine?
Some pregnant people and children may be different.
May Kennedy has announced high Covid-19 recommendations for children and pregnant women. In updated recommendations, children may receive vaccines by consulting a health care provider called joint decision -making.
The Covidid-19 vaccine emergency permits were then abolished, which means that the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine, ComiRnty, no longer allowed for children under 5 years of age. Modern SpikeVax vaccine is confirmed to young children as 6 months, but only if they have a basic condition that pose a higher risk. Children who are 12 years old and older and have at least one major condition that causes a serious risk of serious illness can get Novavax Covidid-19 vaccine-single protein-based non-MRNA vaccine available in the US.
The American Pediatric Academy has terminated the CDC to make a broader recommendation for the Covid-19 vaccine. It says that all children from 6 months to 23 months should receive a vaccine from Covidid-19, unless they knew allergies to vaccines or its ingredients. It also recommends a single dose of vaccine between 2 and 18 for children, if they have a large Covid-19, long-term care institutions, have never been vaccinated against the Covid-19 or live in a household with high-risk Covid-19. It is also said that the vaccine should be available to this age group, even if they are not in these risk groups.
AAP President dr. Susan Kresly said that this week’s more limited vaccine confirmations provide “further confusion and stress for parents trying to make their best children”, which can be an obstacle for vaccination.
Experience during pregnancy may also vary. There are no CDC tips or recommendations for pregnant women after Kennedy’s recommendations. Some women reported from the shift that they could not receive the Covidid-19 vaccine.
However, pregnancy or recent pregnancy remains conditions that lead to a higher risk of heavy Covidid-19, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recently reaffirmed support for Covidid-19 vaccination during pregnancy.
Will the insurance be covered by the updated Covid-19 vaccine?
People with state insurance such as Medicare and Medicaid and who meet new FDA suitability requirements will probably continue to be covered with Covid-19 vaccines, experts say.
There is more uncertainty about how private insurance companies will choose to adjust coverage. Some conditions indicated as a high risk of Covid-19, such as physical inactivity, are freely defined and may be left to interpret individual plans.
Under the Law on Accession, Insurance Companies must cover adult vaccines if they were recommended by ACIP, CDC consultants for vaccines. This group has confirmed the Covid-19 vaccine in previous years, but is a gray area that will happen if their recommendations differ from the CDC recommendations, experts say.
The committee also votes on whether vaccines should be included in the federal child vaccine program, which provides vaccination for children that families would not afford them otherwise.
Can people who do not meet the new eligibility criteria still get a Covid shot?
FDA Commissioner dr. Marty Makary reported X that “100% of adults in this country can still receive a vaccine if they choose. We are not limited to anyone’s availability.”
Healthcare providers can provide the Covid-19 vaccine “non-label” for those who do not meet new eligibility criteria, taking into account their age or overall health, in a statement announced on Wednesday, dr. Tina Tan. The medical product is “non -label” when it is not used under conditions for which the FDA has clearly confirmed it.
“And IDSA strongly calls on doctors to continue to recommend and vaccinate vaccinations to their patients according to the best available studies,” she said. “However, the ability of pharmacists to provide non -label vaccines can be very restricted, emphasizing the vital role of doctors and other doctors while maintaining access.”
How will the provider know that someone can get a Covid shot?
Determining whether someone can vaccinate on the Covid-19 can be part of the appointment process.
However, it is unclear whether the simple conditions for an independent notice will be enough to justify vaccination, said dr. President and CEO of Kelly Moore, Immunize.org, non -profit organizations oriented to vaccine access.
“So far, CDC has specific clinical recommendations indicating people who are vaccinated that they should not document the health status reported by a person requesting vaccination,” said Moore by email. In the letter.
“For example, if you say you are immunized and you need an additional dose of the vaccine, the CDC instructions were that you should document what the patient said and take them according to your word,” she said. “If this were to change, and pharmacists, say, require documents, could complicate the Covidid-19 vaccine access to many people whose conditions are not necessarily obvious, but still endanger them.”
Can I get my flu and Covid at the same time?
According to CDC, people can get a seasonal flu shot and the Covid-19 vaccine at the same time if they can get to each vaccine.
These vaccines include separate wording and packaging. There is no flu and Covid combination vaccine yet, but it may not be too far away; Vaccine manufacturers have created shots that combine them to make vaccination more efficient.
Modern has developed an experimental flu+covido vaccine and published clinical trials last year showing that it was safe for adults aged 50 and older and caused a higher immune response to the influenza virus and coronavirus compared to seasonal flu and Covid-19 vaccines.
Pfizer and Biontech have formed a team to create a flu and Covidid-19 combined vaccine, starting with a few clinical trials that assess the updated compositions. Novavax said this year it was going to seek a business partner to continue their influenza and Covid-19 combined vaccines for research and development.
CNN Deidre McPhillips contributed to this report.
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