The Biden administration plans to urge all Americans to get a booster shot for the coronavirus this autumn to counter a new wave of infections, a White House official said on Sunday.

The official said that while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are reporting an increase in infections and hospital admissions from the virus, overall levels remain low.

On Thursday, Moderna (MRNA.O) said initial data showed its updated COVID-19 vaccine is effective against the “Eris” and “Fornax” subvariants in humans.

Moderna and other COVID-19 vaccine makers Novavax (NVAX.O), Pfizer (PFE.N) and German partner BioNTech SE (22UAy.DE) have created versions of their shots aimed at the XBB.1.5 subvariant.

Pending approval from health regulators in the United States and Europe, the companies expect the updated shots to be available in the coming weeks for the autumn vaccination season.

We will be encouraging all Americans to get those boosters in addition to flu shots and RSV shots,” the official said, referring to the Respiratory Syncytial Virus.

  • edric
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    I wonder if the new boosters will be given out for “free” (in quotes because it’s taxpayers money blah blah, for the pedantic people)? I definitely want a booster since it’s been more than a year(?) since the last one, and it would be great if they gave it out without additional charge.

    • afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world
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      I had a whole thing with my pharmacy about this. They kept on asking for insurance and social security numbers. Me repeatedly pointing out that the vaccine is free and open to everyone living in the US regardless of status.

      I swear they can’t help themselves. They are so used to these fucking games.

    • kent_eh@lemmy.ca
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      1 year ago

      I wonder if the new boosters will be given out for “free” (in quotes because it’s taxpayers money blah blah, for the pedantic people

      They will be in most countries.

  • Hazdaz@lemmy.world
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    Something tells me that this is going to be a hard sell.

    I think most people are out of pandemic-mode already even if the pandemic isn’t done with us. And while it should be easier to sell the idea of getting a booster to people since there weren’t piles of dead bodies from the vaccines like the anti-vaxx people predicted, but that kind of logic doesn’t work on folks. The anti-vaxx people were proven wrong, and yet somehow those people are going to claim they were correct and be even more adamant about not getting the vaccines this time.

    • Rolder@reddthat.com
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      It’s a slightly harder sell because the vaccine didn’t kill me nor did I expect it to, but it definitely did knock me on my ass with some flu like side effects for a day or two.

      • aircooledJenkins@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I got the flu and covid shots last time. Knocked me on my ass for the weekend. BUT when I caught covid a few months later, it was an annoying cold. I’ll take a weekend on the couch over a week or more of shittiness any time.

        • Rolder@reddthat.com
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          1 year ago

          I have the ultimate defense against Covid: Being a loser who never leaves home unless I have to

        • 0XiDE@lemmy.world
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          Guess I was lucky - no shots and covid was still like an annoying cold.

          • Coreidan@lemmy.world
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            For sure. Everyone’s immune system is different.

            Some people can get the flu and only be out a day or two. Some people get it and it kills them.

            It also depends on which strain you came in contact with. The virus in the beginning was a lot more violent then what it is now. Mutations have weakened the virus over time.

      • Cryst@lemmy.ca
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        1 year ago

        Did you get covid? Because even with all my vaccines and boosters I felt like absolute shit for 4 to 5 days and was out of work for a week. When I returned I still certainly wasn’t 100% until the 2 week mark. I can’t imagine what it would have been like without a vaccine. A day or two of feeling crappy ill take. Thank you very much.

        • SeaJ
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          You probably would have been very hard hit with COVID. The vaccines kind of knocked me out of commission for a day. I got COVID in February and I was out for a week with some lingering effects for another week. I quarantined and did not give it to the rest of my family though.

      • CanofBeanz@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        And the number of people who got a vaccine and still got COVID, i know a lot of those people and can guarantee they won’t be getting another shot.

        • Coreidan@lemmy.world
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          Well that’s the idea. The vaccine doesn’t stop you from getting Covid. It was never designed that way.

          The point of the vaccine is to produce enough of the antibodies so that when you do get sick you have a stronger immune system to deal with it because if the antibodies.

          Vaccines fool your body into thinking you’re sick with the virus so you start building antibodies. Eventually you stop doing that which is why boosters are a thing.

          The reality is the vaccine doesn’t come with all of the bad shit that Covid can bring, so although you might feel a little shitty, at least you’re some what prepared for the real virus thanks to the antibodies your body produced.

          The main problem with the vaccine and Covid is that people who don’t understand science have a hard time accepting these things so stuff like masks and vaccines are interpreted as bullshit.

    • Fades@lemmy.world
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      I tried to get another booster for this year and my doctor said I can’t because I’ve already had the boosters. I was like yeah last fucking year but he told me to fuck off.

      So until this shit gets down to the docs and pharmacies, you may not have much success unless you are older or immunocompromised

          • kent_eh@lemmy.ca
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            1 year ago

            Welcome to an endemic disease.

            Like influenza, well have to keep getting tailored vaccines each year as the disease continues to mutate and circulate.

        • SeaJ
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          1 year ago

          It should be available next month for the Eris strain.

        • kent_eh@lemmy.ca
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          It will be better than not getting one, but the newest version of the vaccine will be more tailored towards some of the newer strains that are out there. (In addition to the older strains that still exist)

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        They should already know. Flu vaccines get updated every year, and we’ve known COVID immunity falls off fairly rapidly regardless. People were going only 3-6 months between infections in the initial outbreak. I don’t know what the longevity of the COVID vaccines are but it doesn’t seem great, even ignoring that you need updates for new mutations.

        Now, maybe his supply of vaccine doesn’t protect against the latest strains, but if that was the case I’d expect him to have mentioned that, because it isn’t the overall supply either since some places are throwing them away.

        There’s always the chance your doctor is just an idiot.

        After all, do you know what you call the bottom 10% of a medical school graduating class?

      • SeaJ
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        Your doctor sounds like a fucking moron.

        However, at this point wait until the new one next month.

        • Ullallulloo@civilloquy.com
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          There is a real concern that getting too many boosters too frequently may be able to cause immune system “fatigue”, essentially causing it to do the opposite and train your immune system to ignore COVID-19 because it starts to think it’s just always supposed to be there. A vaccine once a year shouldn’t be able to cause it, but we’re getting into new waters with fighting COVID.

          • SeaJ
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            They said it has been over a year. I am sure they would have been fine.

  • RagnarokOnline@reddthat.com
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    I feel like I’m only just recently hearing about “RSV” (Like within the last 9 months).

    Is that a new thing or do I just live under a rock?

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      Babies always got it. But this is the first time I’ve really seen it be a concern for adults

      I got it in December and holllly shit. Covid would have been better, supposedly. My parents got covid and they weren’t out of it very long but this thing kicked the shit out of them for 2 weeks

      I got it a couple weeks later and I’ve never been so wiped the hell out for 10 straight days. And a couple more weeks to recover

      After seeing how people fared with covid and seeing what I went through with RSV, I’ll take as many RSV vaccines as I’m allowed to take for the rest of my life

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        It was explained to me that RSV is a concern for adults more because they transmit it to young children who are at much greater risk from it. Most adults who get it don’t even know it from another routine illness (sounds like your parents were an exception). I’m not a doctor, this is just how it was explained to me.

    • SuzyQ@sh.itjust.works
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      I didn’t know it was a thing until my second child got it in 2012. He had recently turned 1, so it wasn’t as bad as it could have been (baby danger is for those 1 and younger). It took a while, but it cleared up. He was put on an emergency inhaler to help with the symptoms. I’m convinced that the RSV infection plus the fact that he was a small child (25th percentile for height and weight, but otherwise healthy) contributed to him developing asthma. His asthma doctor told me that is a very real possibility (there’s no way to know for certain). He’s gotten better as he’s gotten older, but I’m forever on edge with new respiratory infections.

    • dhork@lemmy.world
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      It’s not a new thing, but I think the shots were mainly given to kids in the past. But the symptoms can mimic Covid, so I think they have started advising more adults to get the shots.

      RSV isn’t a new thing, but the vaccine apparently is. See the reply. Below

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          You are 100% full of shit. The RSV vaccine has not caused infant deaths. Stop spreading vaccine fear without checking your facts.

          [https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-rsv-drug-nirsevimab-clinical-trials-babies-died-649869418399]

          A quick google search shows that the RSV vaccine was recently approved for babies. And I know for a fact the RSV vaccine was given to high risk infants last year.

          Edit: While I thank you for editing to remove the bullshit about the vaccine killing infants, referencing 2 vaccine deaths from a trial in the 1960s adds nothing to the conversation besides confusion.

            • Sassy
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              You absolutely did say that the trials killed infants. You only suddenly started mentioning a trial from sixty fucking years ago because I called you out. How does an ancient trial have any bearing on today’s vaccines? Why bother? Why did you say specifically that vaccines were only approved for seniors when they have been approved for babies? What is your motive for spreading confusion?

  • curiousaur@reddthat.com
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    The last few boosters I got made me sicker than the last few COVID cases I got. Fever aches and fatigue for about 2 days.

    • evatronic
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      When we failed to take the initial spread seriously and let the thing turn endemic, yes. Yes it will. Much like the flu.

      • Ultraviolet@lemmy.world
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        Failing implies an attempt. The government deliberately chose to lift restrictions prematurely, knowing it would result in the deaths of millions of people, just to make billionaires richer.

        • APassenger@lemmy.world
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          While I agree with your assertion that it was done for financial reasons, it was already endemic by the time the world noticed.

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      Likely, but keep in mind, generally overtime, viruses become less* lethal as its the non lethal ones that survive to spread(as lethal ones kill host, and killing the host is detrimental for the spread of a virus)

      Dudewitbow

      • PotatoKat@lemmy.world
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        While that is normally true, covid spreads before symptoms show. So it doesn’t select as well for non-lethality since lethal variants have plenty of time to spread before it kills the host.

      • Coreidan@lemmy.world
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        Not really. Most viruses get weaker as they mutate. It only makes it easier for the virus to survive and thrive if it is less destructive to its host.

        If viruses got more violent we’d all had died from the common cold a long time ago.

      • AlexWIWA@lemmy.ml
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        True it just sucks that it’s yet another thing I have to worry about just to live and perform my job correctly. I hate getting sick regardless of lethality.

  • Zak@lemmy.world
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    Great, but why can’t I get it now? These have been basically ready for a while.

    • Smokeydabear94@lemmy.world
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      My understanding is that this is a different “mutation” of the omicron variant, and the new booster is with the updated target but I heard it’s not out until autumn, I think it’s Moderna? Is developing the one I’m thinking of

  • Bonesince1997@lemmy.ml
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    What a joke, coming from someone who could use the company. Where you been the last two years?! Unless you have a specific issue, everyone has moved on. Even the Biden administration deemed the pandemic over. So what, it wasn’t? No one is going to listen to you, expect me, but that’s just because I never stopped with my pandemic protocols, though I have amended them.

    • Scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech
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      I mean… No? It’s never over over, it’s just we reached herd immunity. These are just shot updates, just like our annual flu shot. The pandemic is over, but that doesn’t mean COVID was eradicated

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    With the uptick of infections in the UK and other areas, I knew this recommendation was coming. And since it’s not “free” anymore big pharma is going to take in the money on this cash cow.

    I can’t take the vaccine, unless I wanna die, so please don’t think I’m an anti-vaxxer.

    TBF I’ve had Covid twice, it wasn’t fun, but it only lasted in me for like 3-4 days. I’m one of the lucky ones that didn’t end up in the hospital. Doctor told me to take vitamin c and zinc which I think helped reduce the infection time.

    • Vlyn@lemmy.zip
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      What’s the actual reason you can’t get the mRNA vaccine? Are you allergic to a certain chemical in them?

      • Efwis@lemmy.zip
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        The risk for heart attack due to one of the chemicals in them. I have had 2 heart attacks in 2021, one I actually died on the table for 2 minutes, twice. my cardiologist said if I took the mRNA vaccine it would kill me. So here I am. I have no problem with people taking the vaccine or not, their body their choice. But, IMHO, if they really put the time into it, they could program the vaccines to literally kill the virus instead of just making the symptoms lighter. WE have the tech, the problem is big pharma knows if they actually did the right thing they would lose money.

        Ain’t capitalism great? Don’t make a cure, just make a band-aide so you can make more money.

        • Vlyn@lemmy.zip
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          That’s not how vaccines work. You don’t “program” them. For example the Covid mRNA vaccine is only in your body for literally days (at most). At max a week later it’s fully gone, no more trace of the actual vaccine.

          It just tricks your own cells into creating harmless proteins that look similar to the actual virus, so your anti-bodies learn how to attach to them and eliminate them. They learn, they reproduce and remember. When the actual virus gets into your body your body just goes “Ah, I know that stuff already, I know what to do.” instead of not even realizing there’s a virus at first and then frantically trying to find a solution to the intruder (which is based on random chance pretty much, if your body is too slow the virus has too much time to spread, either fucking you up or even killing you if your immune system isn’t up to speed).

          This video is really cool in regards to that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmpuerlbJu0

          • Efwis@lemmy.zip
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            i was using the term program for lack of a better way to put it. I will watch the video though, I’m always interested in learning new things

        • Bo7a@lemmy.ca
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          No offence intended. But if a chemical could kill me in a microscopic dose I’d probably want to share the name of said chemical. Which chemical will kill you? And how much of it is in a typical vaccination?

          Or are you just taking us for a story-telling ride?

          • Efwis@lemmy.zip
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            No story, honestly I don’t remember the name of it, I’ve had so much going on in the last couple years I’m lucky to remember it my birthday today.

            I don’t think it’s one in the typical vaccinations since I can take the flu shot with no problems as well as my pneumonia shot very 5 years.

            One thing I don’t do is tell fables, I’m not the Bible after all.

              • Efwis@lemmy.zip
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                Fuck you. I’m not fear mongering. I made my comment if you don’t want to believe it that is your choice. I’m not going to hold anyone hand when telling the truth never have never will. For example the Bible is a bunch of fairy tales and trump is a traitorous son of a bitch.

                Good day.

            • afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world
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              Listen so I believe that you believe you heard something, and I fully get your paranoia. It can’t be fun going thru what you went thru. Would you be against the idea of your cardiologist putting their recommendation in writing? Explicitly saying “if you get the vaccine you will die from it because of such and such chemical”. It really shouldn’t take that long and let’s say somehow someway your doc misspoke or you misheard it, even if it is a 1 in a billion chance, wouldn’t it be better to be sure?

              No, I don’t expect you to share this with me or anyone else. Just have it for your own good.

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                I agree with you but after my second heart attack, he passed away from one. How’s that for irony?

                Anyway I’m not really worried about it. The doctors don’t ask about them anymore anyway.

                • afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world
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                  I see. Do you have a new cardiologist assigned to you? Can he/she review the medical notes from the previous one?

                  Again, I do believe you believe what you are saying.

          • Efwis@lemmy.zip
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            At this point I figure why bother? Covid isn’t going to go away. It’s a part of life now. Also like I said I’ve had it twice and it wasn’t debilitating to me. To me, I feel like it isn’t worth the cost to my insurance provider.

            This is strictly my call. Besides it’s not like it’s going away just because I take the vaccine. Not to mention the possibility they accidentally administer the wrong one. Not saying this will happen, but nobody is infallible.

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              Covid not going away is a reason to get the booster, not avoid it.

              But in your specific case, with your previous reactions, definitely do what makes sense for you.

              • Efwis@lemmy.zip
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                You’re right. Everyone that is vaccinated should take the booster and those without underlying health issues, that could make it dangerous to take the vaccine, should be vaccinated. Not only for themselves, but for their loved ones and those they are around on a daily basis.

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          This is the power of propoganda. You can tell someone you literally died and they’ll still tell you do it again. I’m sorry you had to go thru that and hope you never have to again.

          • ashok36@lemmy.world
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            No one is telling him to do it again. We are just wondering what connection there is between having heart attacks and the vaccines. There’s a slight risk of myocarditis from the vaccine (many vaccines have the same risk). It seems a bit of a stretch to recommend against the vaccine even then though. The risk of myocarditis is much higher when infected VS vaccinated. OP is rolling the dice that they will never get infected which… Is possible but I wouldn’t bet on it.

          • Efwis@lemmy.zip
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            Trust me, I’m doing everything possible to not have another one. I may not be in perfect health, but heart attacks are one of the scariest things I’ve ever dealt with. Sometimes you gotta hate the human body for the hell it puts you through.