Arizonans are gearing up to combat a new COVID-19 surge as the FDA greenlights an updated booster shot targeting the latest viral adversary, the KP.3 variant. This latest COVID-19 vaccine iteration is set to not only bolster defenses but also to be paired with the flu shot for a one-two punch against seasonal illnesses, according to a recent report by AZCentral.
Since its approval by the FDA on August 22, the new booster, designed specifically to tackle the KP.2 strain and its offshoot KP.3, has become available in Arizona. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recommended that everyone age six months and older should get this updated 2024-2025 COVID booster, they especially underscore the importance for certain groups such as older adults, those at higher risk for severe COVID-19, and pregnant individuals, as detailed by Phoenix New Times.
As virus cases rise and with reported COVID-related hospitalizations hitting nearly 10,000 in Arizona this year, the urgency for vaccination is palpable. The shifts in testing from clinics to at-home kits have made it challenging to accurately track cases, a concern highlighted by Will Humble, executive director of the nonprofit Arizona Public Health Association, in a statement obtained by Phoenix New Times. Despite the data collection hurdles, the CDC categorizes Arizona's epidemic status as "likely growing."
The latest COVID-19 vaccine, now ready to be rolled out, is similar to past versions but has been updated to target the KP.3 and "FLiRT" strains specifically, aiming to increase effectiveness against these dominant variants. "It's a little bit of a game we're playing with this virus, but it's a successful strategy," Dave Engelthaler, director of the Translational Genomics Research Institute, told AZCentral. People who are eager to get vaccinated or updated on their shots can to use the federal vaccine site locator to find the closest available options.
Eligible recipients can expect to see the updated vaccines available in CVS pharmacies around Arizona, and coming to Walgreens locations by September 6th. Officials encourage even the uninsured, who may attend free vaccine events put on by Maricopa County, to get vaccinated. Nick Staab, assistant medical director for the county's health department, emphasized the importance of staying current with vaccines in a statement obtained by AZCentral.
As fall approaches and with the health officials bracing for potentially co-occurring waves of seasonal flu and COVID-19, aligning vaccine strategies have become paramount. Andrew Carroll, a family medicine physician based in Chandler, suggested in an interview with AZCentral, "Ideally, you don't get sick before that... If you do get sick with something that feels like the flu or maybe COVID-19 that you've had in the past, make sure you’re testing yourself."
