New Boosters for Covid-19 have been approved. And not only are they new, but they really are also improved!

You might as how, so FLASS is blasting out the word about the new shots. This new blog explains why these new boosters are correctly named new and improved, with no cliché intended.

New Covid Boosters for this Fall Target Subvariants

This does not mean the boosters won’t protect you from the original form of Covid-19. However, you’ll be happy to know, “The new shot protects against the original variant of SARS-CoV-2 and the Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5 that are currently circulating.”

Peter Marks, MD, PhD, of FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, recently stated the reasoning behind the new booster vaccines. He explained, “To stave off serious outcomes and symptomatic disease, one needs to refresh the immune system with what is actually circulating.” And he added, “BA.1 is no longer circulating.”

A Quick Look at the Numbers

This makes total sense because “CDC’s variant proportions tracker shows that the BA.5 Omicron subvariant makes up 88.7% of cases in the U.S., while BA.4 makes up 3.6% and BA.4.6 makes up 7.5% of cases.”

New Covid Boosters:  Deliberately Targeting the Omicron Variant

Likewise, Pamela Rockwell, D.O., FAAFP, a Michigan Medicine family physician and professor, Department of Family Medicine at U-M Medical School succinctly stated the multi-purpose factor of the new booster. She said, “The bottom line is this booster is replacing the shots we’ve been using because it protects against the omicron variant better.”

Fighter against giant Covid-19 Virus, knocking it out

Get in the Fight! The New Covid boosters target the most plentiful sub-variants of the corona virus.

We believe her because she represents the American Academy of Family Physicians. Thus, she is “…on the CDC’s Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices…” This makes her recommendation quite official when she speaks of vaccines.

A Quick Look the Current State of Covid-19

We all know and appreciate how overall hospitalizations and death numbers have been decreasing during the summer. However, fall has officially arrived, and many health officials are predicting a surge this season.

Update your Covid Boosters on Your Official Card!

Before you get that new fall sweater or autumn shoes, update your Covid-19 protection with fall boosters.

Moreover, are you aware that your immunity to Covid-19 and its subvariants lessens with time? That’s why we are so happy to announce the new booster has just arrived. And it is here just in time for families as they resume their school studies and busy work year.

A Pair of Fast Facts about the New Boosters for Covid-19

1.    Our first fast fact recollects a little recent history. You might not realize or quite remember that the omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5 are intensely different from the original strain that caused the Covid-19 pandemic. However, you might have noticed that the “omicron variant has evolved to be exceedingly contagious…”  Put simply, it looks like omicron is “better at getting around immunity from previous infection or vaccination.”

2.    Therefore, thanks to the CDC and the FDA, “The new bivalent, or paired, booster will help arm the immune system against these changes.”

Now, scientists believe that the new boosters will target some of our immune responses directly at BA.4 and BA.5. In fact, Adam Lauring, M.D., Ph.D., an infectious disease specialist at U-M Medical School, puts it simply. He says the new boosters are designed for “increasing protection…” against serious illness from any of the subvariants.

New Boosters and 4 Healthy Recommendations

The new booster rules state that “Everyone 12 and older should get the booster…”

  • But they should wait  at least 2 months after their primary series completion.
  • Likewise, they should wait at least 2 months after their last booster shot if they had one.
  • This is especially true for people older than 50 and people who are immunocompromised.

Have You Heard about Evusheld?

If you are older than 50 or immunocompromised, check out Evusheld.

  • This injection is a monoclonal antibody shot available especially for you.
  • It was designed for people who might not be able to develop a strong response with the vaccine.
  • Likewise, it is for people who are  unable to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

“It’s very sad to see that there are so many people who are eligible for Evusheld, but not getting it,” said Dr. Rockwell. “I think it’s just that they or their doctors don’t know about it.” Find out more about Evusheld at this reliable online resource. 

It’s All About Timing:  New Boosters on the Calendar

Rockwell notes that the latest data supports two important realities.

  1. Number one is the protection against Covid is improved with these new fall boosters.
  2. Number two is that there is a proven “longer time frame between either infection or vaccination.”
  3. Thus, in summary, we say, boosters are technically available two months after your last shot or last COVID-19 infection. But new data shows you could wait least 3. You need your booster as soon as possible after that time, according to the CDC.

Terrific Take-Aways from the New Boosters Targeting Omicron

Like the flu vaccine, the case for vaccination against Covid-19 you must personally target both individual and public decisions. Keep in mind that you want to accomplish several goals with either type of immunization.

Protect not only yourself, but your family from severe illness with the new Covid-19 Vaccines.

Your family deserves the best protection from severe illness. Use the new vaccines for Covid-19.

  1. You want to mitigate the risk of serious illness for yourself and your immediate family.
  2. Undoubtedly, you would like to “reduce strain on the healthcare system.”
  3. You don’t have to be a superhero to help protect the most vulnerable folks in your community. Just get your shots.
  4. And, by the way, reasonably healthy people can take both their Covid-19 booster and their flu shot at the same time.  Check with your doctor or pharmacist on this issue.

New Boosters and a Special Superhero Power Theory

Good Health is the Basis of Community.

The FLASS family of Health Experts Hopes you protect yourself, your family and the community with the new Covid-19 Boosters. Avoid severe illness this fall.

We close with an interesting theoretical meditation on a study done by the CDC. They hypothesized an interesting statistical situation.

Let's take Control with the new Fall boosters.

Super hero health is available for your community: Just take the new fall booster shots.

IF just as many people over age 18 all got their Covid-19 booster–at the same rate they got their flu shots in previous years,– there would be some dramatic new statistics.

There would, according to this purely academic study, be 20% fewer hospitalizations and 15% fewer deaths from Covid or influenza. It is theoretical, like we said. However, you do not have to be superheroes. Just get your shots and maybe help save a few lives.

Thank you for reading the FLASS blog, and breathe well today.