COVID-19 Booster Reportedly Coming Soon; What To Know In IL

ILLINOIS — Moderna's new COVID-19 booster, which the pharmaceutical company says works against a potentially concerning new virus strain, could be approved as soon as Friday by federal regulators.

COVID-19 hospitalizations nationwide increased almost 16 percent in the week ending Aug. 26, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Deaths were up by almost 18 percent.

On Aug. 25, the Illinois Department of Public Health said that while all counties across the state remained at a low level for COVID-related hospital admissions, wastewater surveillance is detecting rising levels of COVID-19, with "moderate COVID activity across all sampling regions in Illinois." The system monitors wastewater from 79 different locations across the state.

"IDPH is continuing to closely watch COVID-19 data and also monitoring other respiratory viruses, particularly flu and RSV, ahead of the fall and winter seasons," IDPH said, adding, "As we approach the fall, our residents will have access to a number of tools, including updated shots and treatments, that can help us avoid another ‘tripledemic.'"

However, CDC data showed "medium" COVID hospital admissions in several downstate counties, including Washington, Jefferson, Wayne and Marion for the week ending Aug. 26. Statewide, the CDC showed a 1.6 percent increase in positive COVID-19 tests compared to the previous week.

Illinois health officials stopped reporting weekly COVID-19 case data by county — including new cases, hospitalizations and deaths — in May, and officials have not said where the increased cases were detected by wastewater surveillance.

CDC data also showed between one and nine COVID-19-related deaths in Illinois for the week ending Aug. 26.

The XBB.1.5 strain is no longer dominant, but the new booster should protect against other subvariants that are currently circulating, according to NBC News, the first to report on the expected action by the Food and Drug Administration. Moderna and Pfizer have both indicated their boosters appear to provide protection against the BA.2.86 omicron subvariant, which hasn’t yet become dominant.

Approval may not come Friday. A CDC advisory group will issue its own recommendations, action that could come at a scheduled meeting Tuesday. The shots could be available as early as Wednesday, though the exact timeline is not clear.

For the first time, the government won’t pay for the booster, as it has for others since vaccines became available in 2021. Modern and Pfizer have said they plan to offer the shots for about $110 to $130.

It’s not clear what groups will be encouraged to get the booster, but the CDC recommends that everyone get an updated vaccine in addition to their 2021 shots, and that people age 65 and older get a second booster.

About 97 percent of Americans have some level of vaccine protection, though health experts warn immunity fades over time.

Nearly 80 percent of Illinois residents — more than 10 million people — have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and more than 71 percent have completed the primary series of vaccinations.

The trend toward more hospitalizations and deaths began this summer and is expected to continue into the fall and winter months as people spend more time indoors.