Yes, you should get updated COVID vaccine boosters: CDC and Seacoast doctors agree

PORTSMOUTH — The FDA recently authorized a new COVID-19 vaccine, one that offers protection against the original strain of COVID-19 and the newer omicron variants. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Seacoast doctors alike are explaining why they believe you shoud get it.

Most people have received two doses of the vaccine. Many have received one or two booster shots as well. Some people are understandably tired of being poked and wondering if they need to get another shot.

According to the CDC, getting the new vaccine will help because the virus that causes COVID-19 changes over time. It recommends keeping your protection up to date by getting the updated COVID-19 vaccine booster.

The updated COVID-19 vaccine booster includes components of the original virus strain and the omicron variants. This is called a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine.

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According to the CDC, the updated vaccines help protect against severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19.

"As the virus changes and your immunity naturally decreases over time, you may lose some of that protection," the CDC says. "The updated (bivalent) booster vaccines are authorized to help provide better protection against COVID-19."

Seacoast doctors recommend getting the updated vaccine

Dr. David Itkin, a Seacoast area infectious disease specialist, said he understands why people might be thinking the new shot is not necessary, but he recommends getting it.

"Go back to 2020-2021 when we saw the initial strain," he said. "There were widespread cases, with large hospital surges. We were running out of ventilators and people were dying. It was a more visible disease and the vaccine was an easy sell. People wanted it."

Now, Itkin said, people know the current situation is different.

"We know the new omicron is not as deadly," Itkin said. "Hospitalizations are less, partly because many people have some degree of antibodies. It doesn't look like two years ago, so people might be weighing the benefits of the vaccine."

"I plan on getting mine and I will recommend this for my patients," said Dr. Apara Dave, an infectious disease specialist at Exeter Hospital. "This is an updated mRNA vaccine, a bivalent vaccine that protects against the older, original strain of COVID but also the newer omicron variants."

What is in the updated COVID-19 vaccine?

Dave said the first COVID-19 vaccines were monovalent, meaning they targeted the one segment of the virus that was known at the time. Now, she said, we know the virus mutates and changes.

"Since omicron is the current, widely circulating variant, this vaccine will give better protection there as that strain is now included. The vaccine is mRNA like the last ones but the technology has been much improved so the vaccines can be more easily updated now," Dave said.

The new bivalent vaccine booster has a little of the original strain, and includes components to fight the BA.4-5 omicron strains, and will cover several strains of omicron, according to Dr. Evangeline Thibodeau of York Hospital.

"It is a little more tailored to respond to the current need. I will get mine and I hope my patients and their families do the same," Thibodeau said.

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Itkin said the bottom line is the vaccine helps makes COVID-19 a preventable disease for some, and at least a much less serious disease for others.

"It will reduce deaths and hospitalizations," he said. "Some people will still get it. But much like influenza, which can also kill some people, particularly the elderly or people with other comorbidities, it will protect others. The vaccine has been proven to be safe. So the benefit to the choice is between running the risk of a milder illness a more serious one. Do you want to miss work, risk transmitting this to your grandparent, risk long COVID which we are still learning about, or is it better to get the shot?"

Timing the updated COVID-19 vaccine just right

Dave said anyone looking to get the new vaccine should be aware that it must be at least two months since a person had their last dose of a COVID-19 vaccine before scheduling the new shot.

Thibodeau said the vaccine should be timed correctly to give the ultimate protection into the winter months.

"If you have not been infected within the past six months, get it now," she said. "If you have had COVID within the past three months, you can time it for later, but within three to six months."

Thibodeau said people can also time the new vaccine as needed.

"If you are going to a big wedding or other large event, you should consider the shot before that," she said.

"One caveat: There have been no human studies on the current vaccines, only animal testing," Thibodeau said. "We will get more human data in the next few months. I believe it is a safe vaccine. We know so much more now about COVID and about the vaccines."

Where and when can I get the updated vaccine?

The new omicron vaccine is now available in most pharmacies. Information about participating pharmacies can be found via vaccines.nh.gov for New Hampshire and via maine.gov/covid19/vaccines for Maine.

The FDA authorized bivalent formulations of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for use as a single booster dose at least two months after completing primary or booster vaccination.

The Moderna COVID-19 updated vaccine is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 18 years of age and older.

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 updated vaccine is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 12 years of age and older.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: New COVID-19 vaccine now available in NH, ME Seacoast