Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, as signs of weakening immunity and a changing virus prompted the rollout of additional doses of the vaccine, health officials advised Americans to increase their protection against the virus. urged them to seek “booster vaccinations.”
Now, Rolling out the latest vaccine formulations Heading into the fall, officials are changing their messaging to move away from the word “booster.”
Instead, doctors and health departments are now working on getting used to this symptom. to call This year’s new recommended vaccine is the “2023-2024 COVID-19 Vaccine,” or simply the “Latest COVID-19 Vaccine.”
Virtually all Americans over 6 months old One vaccination is currently recommended These latest shots from Moderna or Pfizer are included regardless of what vaccine you have or whether you have previously been vaccinated.
“Bye, booster. We’re not giving boosters anymore. That word is so ingrained that it’s going to be very difficult to stop using that word,” said a member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention committee. said Dr. Cape Talbot. vaccine advisers said.
Talbot was speaking Thursday. webinar Sponsored by the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the event was partially titled “Latest information on new booster vaccines and variants of the novel coronavirus.”
“We’re starting to think of coronavirus like the flu. It changes every year, and we give a new vaccine every year. We don’t give a ‘booster’ shot every year,” Talbot said.
No more “primary series”
The change in terminology arises for the following reasons: suggestionwas first assisted by the Food and Drug Administration’s panel of outside advisors in January to significantly streamline the timeline for approved and approved COVID-19 vaccines.
Most Americans originally received a series of “primary” vaccinations targeting the original strain of the virus early in the pandemic. Combinations of “booster” doses were then offered, with different guidelines depending on a person’s age and previous vaccinations, some of which targeted more recent variants.
That made it difficult for some people and doctors to determine whether their shots were “up to date.” Meanwhile, unvaccinated Americans faced the challenge of having to complete the “primary series” of doses of older formulations of the vaccine before becoming eligible for the latest version. .
FDA took steps to simplify regimens During Aprilphasing out the original version of the vaccine and removing the distinction between “primary series” and “boosters”. Distinction For many people.
Then, when the FDA announced on Monday that it had cleared and approved an updated vaccine formulation targeting the XBB.1.5 strain of the virus, the FDA press release There was no mention of “booster” doses.
“To be clear, these vaccines are not considered ‘boosters’ per se. As previously announced, these vaccines will be available in new formulations for the 2023-2024 fall/winter season. will be updated,” an FDA spokesperson said in an email Thursday.
Other federal agencies strictly adhere to this new terminology.
statement from White House And that Ministry of Health and Human Services We also never used the word “booster” when promoting the new availability of these latest shots.
CDC polling on new shots Asked Americans simply need to be willing to take a “newly updated coronavirus vaccine.”
However, the word “booster” still remains on many other official pages, including the UK website. “Autumn Vaccine Booster” Campaigns abroad and press releases from states within the United States; local health department.
“It’s going to be difficult to start changing that terminology, but it’s no longer a booster. Right now, it’s the current vaccine of the year,” Talbot said.