Updated COVID-19 vaccines will be available in Texas soon. Here’s when you can get one

Tiffani Jackson

To better protect against current COVID-19 variants that are currently circulating in Texas and throughout the United States, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved an updated version of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

Wastewater sample data shows a regional trend of COVID-19 significantly growing. Right now, the KP.3.1.1 variant makes up nearly 37% of the cases; its related strain, KP.3, follows at 17%, according to CDC data. Data collected late last week by the CDC showed that 32 states have reported “very high” levels of wastewater viral activity nationwide.

Currently, the test positivity rate for Texas is 22.3%, which is slightly higher than the national average, according to the CDC.

“These updated vaccines meet the agency’s rigorous, scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality,” said Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.

“Given waning immunity of the population from previous exposure to the virus and from prior vaccination, we strongly encourage those who are eligible to consider receiving an updated COVID-19 vaccine to provide better protection against currently circulating variants,”Marks said.

The updated vaccines, Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, are approved for use in emergencies only in individuals 6 months of age and older. Comirnaty and Spikevax are also updated vaccine options. They are both approved for use in individuals 12 years of age and older.

The vaccines are manufactured by Pfizer and ModernaTX Inc.

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How do the COVID-19 vaccines work?

The genetic code needed to create the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein—the portion of the virus that binds to human cells—is carried by Messenger RNA (mRNA), a synthetic substance used in the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, according to UT Southwestern Medical Center.

The Messenger RNA presents a portion of the virus to your immune system to help it identify the intruder and launch a prompt immune response—activating B and T cells—so your body can fight when it comes into contact with the entire virus in real life.

The technology behind mRNA vaccines has been around for decades and is used to treat various illnesses, including cystic fibrosis and cancer. In contrast to many others, these vaccinations do not cause illness. They target the most common variations of the original SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Will the updated COVID vaccines be effective?

In December 2020, the FDA reported that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were approximately 95% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 in Phase 3 clinical trials. Booster doses were authorized in order to restore the immune system to its former strong state because the protection provided by the initial two-dose primary series gradually diminishes.

Individuals who have gotten the initial COVID-19 vaccination series and any further booster shots have a significantly lower risk of developing serious symptoms, needing hospitalization, or passing away than those who have not received any vaccinations.

“Vaccination continues to be the cornerstone of COVID-19 prevention,” Marks said.

When and where can I get the new vaccine?

The updated COVID vaccines will be available in fall 2024, according to the FDA. A number of retailers like CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and Albertsons are either already taking appointments for vaccination or will soon.

The U.S Department of Health and Human Services said households will be eligible to order four free COVID-19 tests starting at the end of September ahead of the winter season.

“Getting vaccinated sometime in the September to early October time frame seems like a pretty reasonable thing to do to help bring you protection through the December/January time frame,” Marks told NPR.

What else should you know about the updated vaccines

  • Three doses of the updated, approved Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine or two doses of the updated, permitted Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine may be administered to unvaccinated persons aged six months to four years.

  • The timing and quantity of doses administered for the updated, approved Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines depend on the individual’s prior COVID-19 vaccination history. Those who are 6 months to 4 years old and have received one or more doses of the vaccine are eligible.

  • Regardless of prior vaccination history, individuals aged 5 to 11 are eligible for a single dose of the most recent, approved Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines; if previously vaccinated, the dose must be given at least two months following the last COVID-19 dose.

  • A single dosage of either the updated, licensed Comirnaty or the updated, approved Spikevax is available to anybody 12 years of age and older; if the recipient has already had a dose of either COVID-19 vaccine, the dose must be given at least two months after the last dose.

  • After receiving an updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, you may suffer side effects that are similar to those previously reported by recipients of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines and as detailed in the relevant prescribing instructions or fact sheets.

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