Category: COVID-19 vaccines

CDC on How to Get Flu, Covid-19, and RSV Vaccines

The latest update on how to get the respiratory viruses vaccines is updated on the CDC website. Highlights:

  • “f you have insurance, these vaccines should be free to you in most cases.
  • Adults without health insurance or adults whose insurance doesn’t cover all COVID-19 vaccine costs can get an updated COVID-19 vaccine for free through the Bridge Access Program.
  • Most children can get recommended vaccines for free through their family’s insurance or the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program.
  • How COVID-19 vaccines are being distributed changed in September 2023 when these products moved to the commercial market, but there is still plenty of vaccine supply.
  • Flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines may be given at the same visit.”

CDC Update on Respiratory Viruses and the Covid-19 Vaccine

CDC posted an update on Covid-19 vaccination on October 13, 2023. In brief, the salient points:

They save lives and prevent hospitalizations.

The vaccines work.

The side effects are mild or moderate.

Scientific evidence supports the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines.

They don’t make you magnetic and they don’t have microchips to track your movements. We’re not living in an X-File episode.

CDC Recommendations for Fall-Winter Immunizations

The CDC recommendations for Fall-winter immunizations were updated as of September 29, 2023. A few states require a physician’s prescription for the RSV vaccine. Information varies on the web on which states require a prescription for the RSV vaccine. The Iowa Board of Pharmacy website is clear on the matter–you’ll need a prescription.

Most states don’t require a prescription for the RSV vaccine. The CDC recommends having a shared decision-making discussion with your doctor to help you decide about whether the RSV vaccine is right for you. The best thing to do would be to call your doctor, the state board of pharmacy, or your local pharmacy to find out how you should proceed.

Covid-19 and Flu Vaccines Today

Today I got the new Covid-19 vaccine and the flu shot. I scheduled on line late last week and got right in. I didn’t have to wait long in line—and there were others getting the same vaccines. Sena will get them tomorrow.

It’s up to you.

COVID-19 in the Rearview Mirror?

One way to think about the Covid-19 pandemic can be that it’s in our rearview mirror, which is one way of saying it’s behind us now.

On the other hand, another way to think about it is that COVID-19 is in our rearview mirror because it’s tailing us.

So, we can’t keep staring in the rearview mirror because that’s not a safe way to drive. We can look forward and drive, paying attention to the signs, which guide us on how to stay ahead of and outrun another pandemic.

One way to do that is to bookmark the CDC COVID-19 web site.

How to Find Covid-19 Vaccine Availability By County

I’m finding out that maybe the best way to learn what the local public health issues are concerning Covid-19 infections as well as vaccine availability are through the county public health agency in my area.

According to the Johnson County Public Health department, hospital admission rates in Johnson County currently low. I can search the map and see that admissions are rising in certain areas of Iowa.

I also learned that the new Covid-19 vaccine will more likely be available closer to the end of the month or early next month rather than in a few days as suggested by presenters at the CDC meeting on September 12, 2023.

The county public health agencies may not have the most current information. Johnson County’s last update as of yesterday was September 1, 2023.

You can also check local pharmacies for availability of the Covid-19 vaccine.

CDC Recommends Updated COVID-19 Vaccine This Fall-Winter Season

The CDC has posted a press release announcing that it has recommended the updated COVID-19 vaccine for the fall/winter virus season.

CDC ACIP Meeting Today on Covid-19 Vaccines

Today is the scheduled meeting for the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). It meets from 10 AM-4 PM EDT. The final agenda is here.

The presentation slides are at this link.

I also want to recommend the recent article on the new Covid vaccine published in Scientific American on September 1, 2023, entitled “When Will the Next COVID Vaccine Be Available, and Who Should Get It?

I think it’s a nice, balanced article which avoids extreme opinions and sticks to the scientific facts.

FDA Authorizes Updated mRNA Covid-19 Vaccines

Today, the FDA approved and authorized the updated mRNA Covid-19 vaccines, specifically for the monovalent XBB.1.5 variant.

See the announcement on the FDA website for full details. The CDC ACIP will meet to discuss clinically-based recommendations for the use of these vaccines tomorrow.