Vaccine Update: CDC Recommends New COVID-19 Formulations for Everyone Aged 6 Months and Older

By Lucia Paula , Parent Herald Sep 13, 03:03 am

In a move aimed at enhancing public health during a time of emerging variants, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Tuesday that everyone aged 6 months and older should receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine. The latest vaccines from Pfizer, BioNTech, and Moderna are expected to be available this week.

ACIP Advisory Committee Backs CDC Recommendation, Ensuring Insurance Coverage

After consultation with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), Dr. Mandy Cohen, director of the CDC, approved the recommendation. Both public and private insurance plans will cover the vaccines, according to ACIP, an expert panel that directs the CDC's vaccine policies.

The CDC issued a statement saying, "Vaccination remains the best protection against COVID-19-related hospitalization and death. The new vaccines have been designed to target the XBB.1.5 viruses and their derivatives, which are currently the dominant strains. Unlike previous versions, which contained two strains of the virus, these new vaccines focus on a single strain.

The new recommendation is timely, given the recent uptick in COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths. According to the CDC's latest data, hospitalizations rose by 9% last week, although they remain about half of what was recorded during last winter's peak. Deaths have also shown a concerning increase, most notably among adults over 75 and infants under 6 months.

Despite the universal recommendation, the ACIP vote wasn't unanimous. Dr. Pablo Sanchez, a pediatrician at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Ohio, expressed discomfort over the limited clinical trial data on children under 12. He argued that parents should have more information to make an informed decision about vaccinating their young children.

Other committee members felt that the vaccine's benefits outweighed the risks for all age groups. Dr. Sandra Fryhofer, representing the American Medical Association, emphasized that even those with no underlying health conditions could experience severe illness due to COVID-19. Clinical studies from Moderna, Pfizer, and Novavax showed a significant boost in antibodies against currently circulating coronavirus variants, reinforcing the universal recommendation for those aged 6 months and older.

Two mRNA vaccines, Pfizer's and Moderna's, received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration. A third option, Novavax, is still under FDA review. The ACIP wording allows for an endorsement of any XBB-containing vaccine approved or authorized by the FDA, which means the committee won't need to reconvene to consider future vaccines.

Financial Accessibility of Updated Covid-19 Vaccines

Financial accessibility was also addressed. Many commercial insurance plans must offer vaccines at no cost in accordance with the Affordable Care Act. For those lacking sufficient insurance, the government's Bridge Access Programme will offer free vaccines through health departments and federally qualified health clinics. The CDC's Vaccines for Children programme will provide free vaccines for low-income families.

This landmark decision marks the first time COVID-19 vaccines will be made available on the commercial market. The wholesale price range is set at $120 to $130 per dose, but due to existing healthcare policies, many will pay nothing out-of-pocket for their COVID-19 vaccines.

The new CDC recommendation represents a proactive step in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, with particular attention to emerging variants. By recommending the vaccine for everyone aged 6 months and up, the agency aims to lower the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, or death from the virus and its evolving strains.