In August of 2024, both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, two of the largest biopharmaceutical companies in America, as well as Novavax, released a new COVID-19 booster vaccine that was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The vaccines utilize messenger RNA (mRNA) technology which instructs the immune system to make antibodies for the COVID-19 disease without introducing the live virus into the body.
According to the CDC, the new COVID-19 vaccine came shortly after a summer wave that caused a spike in case numbers. The CDC guidelines recommend that everyone aged six months and older get one of the updated vaccines. Pfizer and Moderna’s updated mRNA vaccines were approved for ages 12 and older. However, the FDA has issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for infants and children between the ages of 6 months and 11 years. This is when the FDA authorizes a medical treatment that is not usually recommended but needed as there are no present alternatives in times of need, the FDA explained. The Novavax vaccine remains to be for ages 12 and older. According to Yale Medicine, the mRNA vaccines target new SARS-CoV-2 FLiRT strains, which refers to the recent strains that develop similar mutations. Julie Bennet, a pharmacist at Tarrytown Pharmacy in Austin, explained that the vaccines are recommended to fend off the risk of hospitalization and other dangers from the sickness.
“Typically your immunity to [COVID-19] wears off six months to a year on average,” Bennet said. “So you get a booster shot, like getting a flu shot every year, to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.”
According to the FDA, the use of mRNA in the COVID-19 vaccine helps the body stay up to date with the continuous variations. Viruses mutate as they spread from person to person, creating variations to improve their effect, as specified by Tulane University. Devon Montoya, a graduate student at the University of New Mexico working towards a Doctor of Pharmacy Doctorate, mentioned that this characteristic of viruses creates a need for frequent vaccinations.
“This [mRNA] leads to quicker development of vaccines for future outbreaks and potentially more effective vaccines,” Montoya said.
Vaccines using mRNA are significantly easier to mass produce considering it does not require cell cultures like in the case of the traditional vaccine. However, there are some challenges during the distribution process. As mRNA must be stored at minus 58 degrees to minus 55 degrees Fahrenheit, the vaccine manufacturers needed to adapt their shipping methods. Pfizer uses the “cold chain” technique to ship their vaccines.
“We have developed plans and tools to support effective vaccine transport, storage, and continuous temperature monitoring,” Pfizer said in a public statement. “Our distribution is built on a flexible just-in-time system which will ship the frozen vials to the point of vaccination.”
According to NPR, roughly 22 percent of eligible adults received the last COVID-19 booster shot. While those who have been recently vaccinated and are not immunocompromised usually do not return to get their boosters, the updated vaccines are useful for the new waves and variants of COVID-19, as mentioned by the CDC.
“There may be a decrease in the number of people getting vaccinated now that COVID-19 has slowed down, as some individuals may feel less urgency to get vaccinated,” Montoya said. “Vaccination is still important to prevent future outbreaks and protect vulnerable populations.”
The vaccines have been sent out nationwide after approval from the FDA. The vaccinations can be found at local pharmacies, medical offices, and regional clinics. However, the demand for these vaccines varies at each pharmacy.
“We have a huge demand for it here at Tarrytown,” Bennet said. “But I know that is not the case all over the nation.”
COVID-19 boosters have always lagged in popularity in comparison to flu shots, as reported by CNN. Alicia Murphey, a school nurse at LASA, explained her thoughts on the matter.
“The flu shot is tried and true, it’s just a routine every fall and winter,” Murphey said. “The COVID-19 vaccine is newer and there’s more skepticism about its efficacy of whether or not it’s truly preventing people from getting COVID-19.”
Throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, many vaccines were created to combat the disease, however, the new mRNA technology allowed companies like Pfizer, BioNTech, and Moderna to develop and release vaccines in record time. This mRNA use will continue to advance the world of vaccines starting with this new COVID-19 booster.
