New 2023-2024 Covid-19 vaccinations will be available in the US starting later this week. According to the CDC,

“People vaccinated with Moderna’s updated COVID-19 vaccine, which includes a component that corresponds to the XBB lineage of the Omicron variant, showed a strong immune response against some of the variants that are common now (XBB.1.5, EG.5.1, and FL.1.5.1). They also had an overall boost in COVID-19 immunity that may have waned since their last vaccination or infection. Their antibody responses after vaccination were about 17-times higher against XBB 1.5 and about 10-times higher against BA.2.86 (a rare new variant that CDC is closely monitoring) compared to before vaccination. These data signal that the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine likely can provide strong protection against COVID-19 during this fall and winter virus season.”

The CDC further stated “In preclinical studies, Pfizer’s updated COVID-19 vaccine also produced strong immune responses to XBB.1.5.”

The vaccine is covered by most health insurance. People without health insurance and people whose health insurance does not cover the vaccine can get the vaccine through the Bridge Access Program. Children can get the vaccine through the Vaccines for Children Program. Vaccines reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death.

The updated Moderna or Phizer vaccine is recommend people 6 months or age or older. People who are unwilling or unable to get the updated Moderna or Phizer vaccine may be able to get a Novavax vaccination if they meet certain criteria.

Walgreens and CVS are currently offering appointment scheduling for the new vaccines, with appointments being available as early as next week. The CDC says it will update its Vaccine Search Tool later this week.

Please protect yourself, your loved ones, and your communities by getting the vaccine if you are able! Also get the flu shot if you haven’t already and are able.

Edit: Changed to a different quote from the CDC, clarified the year, and changed formatting.

Edit: Updated places to find a vaccine with vendors that are currently offering appointments for the new vaccinations. There might be others but Walgreens and CVS were all I could find.

Edit: In a previous version of this post, I used information from the CDC website that said that the updated Phizer and Moderna vaccines were bivalent. However, information from the FDA makes it look like the new Phizer and Moderna vaccines are monovalent. I have removed this conflicting information from the body of the post. I believe it is likely that the CDC website was not fully updated when I originally pulled the info.