3 new COVID vaccines coming, payment changes: what you need to know

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine The company last week confirmed the effectiveness of its vaccine in people aged 12 and over, following the approval of improved vaccines from Moderna Inc and Pfizer-BioNTech the previous week.

This means people could choose from three updated vaccines that more precisely target the strains of COVID that are currently making people sick. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has already Recommendation Up-to-date COVID vaccination for everyone aged 6 months and older Seasonal influenza vaccine updateSo if it's been at least two months since your last COVID vaccination, you can get vaccinated as soon as it's on pharmacy shelves. (For people who haven't been vaccinated before, the timing and number of doses will vary.)

The summer of 2024 has been reported to have “very high” COVID-19 infection rates. Wastewater Data From the CDC. Part of the summer surge problem This may be related to people's waning immunity from previous vaccines or infections, and the constant circulation of new, more infectious versions of Omicron. Therefore, as we approach the cooler weather and respiratory virus seasons, the availability of an updated vaccine is expected to be a useful tool in preventing severe disease.

COVID From pandemic to endemic The new coronavirus is still making people sick, but it's spreading in a more predictable way that can be mitigated by treatments. CDC officials have simplified guidelines for vaccination and isolation to make them easier for everyone to follow if they have symptoms of the respiratory virus. Here's what you need to know.

When will the new COVID vaccine be available? How will it be different from last year's vaccine?

The COVID vaccine is already available. To find out which vaccine is in stock at your preferred pharmacy, Vaccine.gov Select your location by zip code and call the pharmacy, or you can go directly to the pharmacy's website.

The vaccines approved by the FDA this summer (Moderna, Pfizer and Novavax) all target strains of the virus that are a better match to current circulating strains than last year's vaccine strains, which is hoped to provide better protection. But there's a difference with the updated Novavax vaccine. Protein-Based VaccinesModerna and Pfizer are mRNA vaccines. Novavax's new vaccine matches the JN.1 version of COVID, while the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines match the KP.2, which is Recent strain of the JN.1 lineage.

How will people pay for the COVID vaccine now?

One change is that the cost of the COVID vaccine is no longer covered by the federal government, although both the COVID vaccine and the flu vaccine should be covered by public insurance. Including MedicareThe Bridge Access Program offered COVID vaccines free to people without health insurance, Ends in August A lack of funding means new measures will be needed to make COVID vaccines free for adults, but Free vaccines for all children.

For adults without Medicare, Medicaid or other insurance, out-of-pocket costs for a COVID vaccine are Up to $200.

What should I do if I test positive for COVID?

In addition to guidance on vaccines, which are similar to the annual flu shot, guidance on what to do when you get sick more generally focuses on: What to do if you have symptoms of a respiratory virus This should be based on the presence or absence of symptoms such as feeling unwell or sick, not the results of a COVID test, but it's best to get a COVID test if you can, as treatments vary depending on the virus you have.

If you are at high risk for respiratory viruses (including complications from COVID, influenza, and RSV), it is especially important to find out which virus you have (through testing and visiting a healthcare provider) and get the appropriate treatment, as treatment varies depending on the virus you have.

If you are an adult over 50, or if you have a chronic condition such as heart disease, high blood pressure, asthma, or diabetes, You may be able to take an antiviral medicine (including paxlobucil) that will reduce the severity of your illness and your risk of hospitalization. Call your doctor or pharmacist or Find a testing and treatment centerpeople with Medicare or Medicaid, the uninsured, people with VA insurance, and people with Indian Health Service coverage can get tested and treated for COVID-19 at no cost. It is important to start taking antiviral medication. Within a few days of symptoms appearing So that the medicine works.

Anyone who has or suspects they have COVID is urged to follow the CDC's general guidelines. Prevent the spread of respiratory viruses When you are sick. This includes Stay at home and away from others If you feel unwell, regardless of whether you want to get tested.

The CDC says that you can resume normal activities 24 hours after your symptoms have started to improve overall and you've had no fever for 24 hours (as long as you're not taking fever-reducing medications such as ibuprofen). Take extra precautions for 5 days Until symptoms improve, people are encouraged to continue wearing a mask and avoiding contact with people who are at high risk for severe illness from COVID and other respiratory viruses.

This is a change from pandemic-era guidelines that were more specific about when and for how long people should quarantine after exposure to COVID-19 or a positive test result. Why?

“This is an endemic virus, and there is a lot of herd immunity and medical countermeasures available,” Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease expert and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said in an email. “Guidelines should reflect that and be relatively easy for people to apply.”