Experts Advise Caution in Timing COVID Booster Shots Amid Evolving Variants

By IndraStra Global News Team

Amidst the recent surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, health experts are urging most individuals to exercise patience and await the release of updated booster shots before considering a third dose.
Dr. John Brownstein, Chief Innovation Officer at Boston Children's Hospital and ABC News Medical Contributor, advised, "If you're in a low-risk category and don't have consistent interaction with high-risk family or friends, waiting for the updated booster may be the right call." He emphasized that the decision should be individualized, given the absence of perfect data on the matter.
These updated boosters are anticipated to be available in mid-to-late September and are specifically designed to provide enhanced protection against newer variants of the virus.
Brownstein acknowledged the complexity of timing booster shots, saying, "It's hard to thread the needle perfectly when it comes to the timing of boosters. This has always been a challenge, and given how difficult it is to predict the future, it's really hard to predict timing and optimize protection."
Earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration had requested vaccine manufacturers to develop boosters to combat an omicron subvariant known as XBB.1.5, accounting for an estimated 40% of new COVID-19 cases in the United States.
Now, new variants like EG.5 and BA.2.86 have emerged, with the latter being classified as a "variant under monitoring" by the World Health Organization due to concerns raised by infectious disease experts regarding its numerous mutations.
According to vaccine manufacturers, the upcoming fall booster shows a significant increase in antibody production against some of these newly identified variants.
Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo, Director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University School of Public Health, suggested that waiting a few weeks for the updated shot should be safe for most low-risk individuals, especially if they don't anticipate high exposures to the virus.
However, Nuzzo cautioned that there could be specific situations where an earlier booster might be advisable, particularly if individuals expect substantial exposure to the virus in the interim. "The best time to get vaccinated is before you get infected," she emphasized.
Last year's "tripledemic" season, with COVID-19, the flu, and RSV hospitalizing hundreds of thousands of patients, has raised concerns among state health officials about the upcoming flu season. Dr. Manisha Juthani, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health, noted the uncertainty surrounding this year's flu season, stating, "We're in uncharted territory. We don't really know what this season is going to look like, and it's going to look different in different areas of the country."
Notably, last year's bivalent booster uptake was lower than for previous COVID-19 vaccines, with only 17% of the total U.S. population receiving a dose, leaving some at-risk individuals more vulnerable.
As flu shots become more widely available in the coming weeks, experts stress that it is both safe and effective to receive both the COVID-19 and flu vaccines during the same visit.
For those feeling uncertain about their vaccination status, Dr. Brownstein advised reaching out to their healthcare provider. He emphasized, "Talking to your doctor should help address any questions you might have and help determine the best way to move forward for you and your specific situation.

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