The signs of autumn are everywhere: school has started again and the temperatures are finally starting to drop.
Another sign of fall? Updated vaccination recommendations. In late August, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved an updated COVID-19 vaccine that will be available this fall. While vaccines may seem less festive than other fall items, they play an important role in keeping us safe and healthy during the winter, when respiratory virus numbers tend to rise.
As MD Anderson’s As Chief Infection Control Officer, I am often asked what these vaccine updates mean and who these vaccines are recommended for. Here I provide answers to some frequently asked questions about the COVID-19 vaccine.
What’s new about the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine?
Last year’s vaccine targeted several variants in the COVID-19 family tree. Some of those strains are no longer in circulation. This updated vaccine is better targeted at newer strains of the virus and hopefully those we might encounter this winter.
I got the COVID-19 vaccine last year. Do I need another one?
Most people have some immunity to COVID-19 from previous infection or vaccination. However, this protection wears off over time. This can cause you to get COVID-19 again.
The recently approved updated COVID-19 vaccine targets new strains of the virus that were not covered in last year’s updated COVID-19 vaccine. Eligible people should receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine this fall to have better protection against variants currently circulating.
Who should receive the updated vaccine?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all persons 6 months of age and older receive a current COVID-19 vaccination, regardless of whether they have been previously vaccinated against COVID-19.
Is the updated vaccine safe for cancer patients and survivors?
Yes, this updated vaccine is safe and recommended for cancer patients and survivors.
For people with moderate to severe immunodeficiency, the CDC recommends the updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna to protect against severe illness from COVID-19.
I’ve had side effects from previous COVID-19 vaccines. Should I get this vaccine?
If you have experienced side effects after a previous COVID-19 vaccination, you may be wondering whether it is worth getting vaccinated with the updated vaccine. In this case, there is no right answer that applies to everyone, so I recommend asking your doctor. Together, you can discuss the risks and benefits of getting vaccinated with an updated vaccine, depending on what reaction you have had in the past.
Some people experience no side effects, while others may experience serious side effects such as allergic reactions that prevent them from being vaccinated again.
However, most of us fall somewhere in between. The CDC writes that common mild to moderate side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine include:
- Headache
- fatigue
- Pain at the site where the vaccine was administered
In most cases, these side effects disappear after a few days.
While these side effects can be uncomfortable, it’s important to know that the COVID-19 vaccine is completely safe for most people. Federal agencies like the FDA and CDC continue to monitor the safety of these COVID-19 vaccines.
As the CDC writes, “To date, hundreds of millions of people have safely received a COVID-19 vaccine under the most intensive vaccine safety monitoring in United States history.”
When will the new COVID-19 vaccines be available?
The updated 2024–25 COVID-19 vaccines are already available at some pharmacies and clinics and should be more widely available in the coming weeks. The date each clinic receives the updated vaccine varies, so the CDC recommends checking directly with your provider.
Are there any other vaccinations to consider getting this fall?
Like last year, you can get this year’s updated COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as the 2024-2025 flu vaccine.
Why is it still important to get vaccinated against COVID-19?
One line from the CDC’s press release on the updated vaccine makes it clear to me why it is still so important to get vaccinated against COVID-19: “Last season, people who received a 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine were better protected against illness and hospitalization than those who did not receive a 2023-2024 vaccine.”
This one short line gives me so much hope. This vaccine can keep us healthy and allow us to enjoy the parts of fall and winter that are important to us, whether that’s staying active, spending the holidays with family, or just continuing with our normal daily lives.
Make an appointment at MD Anderson online or by phone 1-877-632-6789.
