By Karen L. Kier
Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU Healthwise Team

As I was grocery shopping this week, an announcement came overhead about the new updated guidelines for the COVID-19 vaccines. After the announcement, a lady in the same aisle rolled her eyes and said, with obvious disdain, “Whoop-de-do.” 

I refrained from going into a pharmacist educational mode in the dairy aisle, but I wondered if she really understood what she was whoop-de-doing about.

Interestingly, I inquired in the Merriam-Webster dictionary for the meaning of whoop-de-do. It has several definitions including attention-getting activity and an agitated public discussion. The attention-getting activity was achieved in the store, but refrain was shown before an agitated public discussion occurred.

No matter where you stand on the nature of vaccines, I think it is important to understand the latest information and science related to all vaccines and not just COVID-19. 

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met on February 28 and 29, 2024, to make recommendations to the Director of the CDC. The ACIP has 12 voting members who are all physicians with no affiliation to the CDC, but rather are experts in their respective fields. In addition, there are 39 liaisons to the committee representing nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians, pharmacists, and public health experts. 

During this meeting, the ACIP recommended a second booster dose of the COVID-19 2023-2024 vaccine for those 65 years and older. No other age groups were included in the report. The second booster dose of the newest formulation should only be given if at least 4 months has passed since your last COVID-19 booster.

Science continues to show evidence for vaccine antibody formation against COVID-19 lasting only about 3 months after receiving a shot. Researchers are working on vaccines with more durable responses for future COVID-19 vaccines. 

COVID-19 illness is still circulating in the United States with the most common variant being the JN.1 at 86.5%. The remaining percentages are the JN.1.13 and the JN.1.18. The 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine is effective against these variants. Only 16.2% of Ohio’s population has received the latest 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine.

The current level of COVID-19 illness is considered low for all 88 counties in Ohio as well as a significant portion of the country. There are a few hotspots on the map for those who may be traveling to parts of Indiana, Pennsylvania, Texas, Mississippi, and California, just to name a few. Before traveling, check any one of the COVID-19 tracking sites and remember- if you decide to get the booster, it takes 2 weeks to take full effect. 

Besides the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus seems to have killed off one strain of the flu. The ACIP discussed the impact of this change as part of their report. The committee makes recommendations every February on the seasonal flu vaccine for the fall. After 10 years of showing up in our flu vaccines, the Yamagata strain will be removed from the flu vaccine. So, instead of getting 4 strains in this fall’s vaccine, there will only be 3. Both the World Health Organization and the FDA agreed that the removal of the Yamagata strain was warranted.

Based on these recommendations, the 2024-2025 egg-based vaccine will contain the A/Victoria (H1N1), A/Thailand (H3N2), and B/Austria (B/Victoria lineage) and the cell-based vaccine will contain the A/Wisconsin (H1N1), A/Massachusetts (H3N2), and B/Austria (B/Victoria lineage). The flu vaccines should be available in late August and early September. 

In October of 2023, the FDA approved the first pentavalent meningococcal vaccine for those ages 10 to 25 years. The vaccine covers the 5 most common serogroups of this serious cause of a brain infection (meningitis). The vaccine is given as 2 doses six months apart. 

So rather than whoop-de-do, we have an educational moment!

ONU Healthwise is offering the flu and COVID-19 vaccines at clinics Monday-Friday from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Please call for more information, 419-772-3784