Updated COVID Vaccine Approved: What To Know, How To Get One In RI

RHODE ISLAND — Federal regulators have approved updated COVID-19 vaccines to better target recent strains of the virus that have contributed to a summer illness surge Rhode Island and around the country.

Late last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization for the latest mRNA vaccines, which have been reformulated to focus on a newer omicron variant known as KP.2, or FLiRT. The approval for this year's vaccine came a little earlier than in previous years, as most of the country is experiencing increased viral activity.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has already recommended this fall's shot for everyone age 6 months and older. And though different omicron strains such as KP.3.1.1 have also been spreading (and may become more common in the fall and winter), health officials said the
variants are closely related enough for the 2024-25 COVID vaccines to ensure cross-protection.

When will the vaccines be available, and when should I get one?

Pfizer and Moderna are set to begin shipping millions of doses, while a third U.S. manufacturer, Novavax, expects its modified vaccine version to be available a little later.

CVS is offering appointments for the new vaccine now, and Walgreens has appointments available beginning Sept. 6.

Keep in mind that the federal government is not buying and distributing COVID vaccines anymore, so the shots are no longer free of charge, though insurance carriers should cover most or all of the cost.

See Also: Flu Season Nears: Walgreens Offering Shots Nationwide

Dr. Robert Hopkins Jr. of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases said skipping this new vaccine is "a hazardous way to go," because even if your last infection was mild, your next might be worse or leave you with long COVID symptoms.

Hopkins advised that people at high risk from COVID should schedule vaccinations once shots are available in their area, as long as they have not been sick with the virus in the past three months, or had another COVID vaccine in the past two months. This high-risk group includes older adults, people with weak immune systems or other serious medical problems, nursing home residents and pregnant women.

Healthy adults and children "can get vaccinated anytime," Hopkins said, adding that these people could wait until the fall — when local pharmacies and doctor's offices have more doses, and people could potentially get a flu shot at the same time they receive the updated COVID vaccine.

Vaccine coverage is waning nationwide, with only 22.6 percent of U.S. adults currently protected by the 2023-24 COVID vaccine that rolled out in September 2023, according to CDC data. Vaccine
protection increased by age groups, with the highest coverage among adults 75 and older — though the strain targeted by those shots is no longer circulating.

Much of the country, including Rhode Island, is experiencing a summer bump in COVID-19 cases, according to updated wastewater surveillance data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Communities can use sewage samples to track the presence of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) as a data point to anticipate any spikes locally.

As of the latest update on Aug. 22, wastewater viral activity for COVID-19 is at a "very high" level nationally, and Rhode Island is at a "high" level.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.