Updated COVID-19 vaccines could reach pharmacies soon

COVID-19 cases are on the rise throughout the Southwest, including Dallas County, but the latest vaccines will soon be on the way to pharmacies.
Dallas County had 109 positive COVID-19 cases reported daily on a seven-day rolling average last week, according to the Dallas County Health and Human Services website, which was last updated Aug. 23. Reporting cases is now voluntary, and most home tests go unreported, so the number could be higher.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved this week the updated COVID-19 vaccines, which is designed to target the omicron variant KP.2.
While additional offshoots, particularly KP.3.1.1, now are spreading, they’re closely enough related that the vaccines promise cross-protection, The Associated Press reported.
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With the FDA’s clearance, Pfizer and Moderna are set to begin shipping millions of doses, according to the AP. A third U.S. manufacturer, Novavax, expects its modified vaccine version to be available a little later.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends visiting your local pharmacy’s website to check for available vaccination appointments. Some pharmacies might also provide vaccines to individuals who walk in without an appointment.
More than 9,000 CVS Pharmacy locations will begin receiving the updated COVID-19 vaccines within the next few days, according to a spokesperson. People can begin booking appointments Sept. 8.
A CDC spokesperson said it recommends the 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine for everyone 6 months and older as the best protection against severe illness.
“We anticipate the vaccines will be increasingly available in the coming weeks and encourage providers to order for the fall and for all Americans to make a plan to get vaccinated to protect themselves, their families and their communities,” the spokesperson said.
The CDC states that receiving an updated vaccine against COVID-19 can amplify protection against the virus and can prevent the effects of long COVID, a chronic condition with a wide range of symptoms lasting months or years.
Vaccines help lower the risk of transmission and help avoid hospitalizations, long-term health consequences, and death, according to the CDC.
Last fall, Dr. Mandy Cohen, the CDC director, stopped in Dallas as part of a tour of vaccine clinics across Texas and the country to encourage North Texans to get vaccinated.
The COVID vaccines have been proven safe and effective, but just like flu shots, they can have mild side effects, according to the CDC.