Don’t Dance Waiting for the Fall Boosters
High‑risk folks who haven’t smacked their second Covid‑19 booster yet should keep it in the present—rather than waiting for those shiny, next‑generation, Omicron‑targeted shots slated to hit the market this fall. Five vaccine experts told Reuters that the “now” booster still stands strong, even while the BA.5 subvariant is on the rise.
Why the Old Guard Still Holds Up
Across the globe, the BA.5 wave is pushing through, but the existing shots—both the original Wuhan strain and newer formulations—continue to shield people from the worst: hospitalisation and death. The mystery is which Omicron variant will dominate in the autumn and whether the new boosters will match it.
“If you need a booster, get it now,” says Dr. John Moore, a microbiology professor at Weill Cornell Medical College, who co‑authored a Friday editorial.
Regulators’ Playbook
- In the United States, regulators are urging Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna to gear up a booster that ticks off both BA.4 & BA.5 and the original strain.
- On Friday, the government signed off on 66 million Moderna shots in a $1.74 billion deal. Add that to the 105 million doses already ordered from Pfizer/BioNTech, and you’ve got a total of 171 million shots earmarked for early fall.
- Across the Atlantic, European regulators are open to any Omicron‑based booster that rolls in first—likely the one targeting BA.1, which caused last winter’s record surge.
US regulators aim for a “broad‑spectrum” vaccine that covers the original strain and an Omicron variant. They believe a booster that mirrors the circulating version is worth its weight in gold.
“Bigger Than Something Magical” Takeaway
With the surge still hot‑on‑fire and immunity waning, experts are sounding an alarm: “The best booster for the vulnerable is the one we already have.”
- Only about 30 % of people aged 50+ who qualify for a fourth dose have actually gotten it.
- Less than 10 % of those aged 50‑64 have received a second booster, per the CDC.
- There’s no gearing up for a fourth dose for people under 50 or without major risk factors—and scientists aren’t backing it.
Dr. Moore notes that the latest evidence—looked at in June at an FDA meeting and beyond—suggests that a BA.4/5 booster offers only a negligible advantage over the original vaccine in preventing infection.
“Don’t let the public see these Omicron boosters as a magical fix that will end the pandemic, either,” he cautioned. “They’ll add a little splash of protection, but they won’t rewrite the whole story.”
Bottom line: Don’t sit around waiting for the next‑big thing. Grab the booster that’s already out there—because it keeps you protective today, and protects you when the next wave comes knocking.
‘Too many people are waiting’
Boosters vs. the BA.5 Pandemic: A Hilariously Surgical Update
A Genome Guard: Dr. Eric Topol’s Take
Dr. Eric Topol, the genomics guru and director of Scripps Research Translational Institute, warns that timing is everything when it comes to fighting COVID. He says, “Getting a second booster offers a survival benefit over just one booster,” backed by five studies. “Too many people are waiting when we have really good proof,” he points out, suggesting that the science is solid—just the people aren’t following the playbook.
The Time Train: Dr. Bob Wachter’s Reminder
Dr. Bob Wachter, chief of medicine at UCSF, echoes the urgency. He tells us, “The longer a person has gone since their last booster, the less protection they have against infection and severe disease.” In plain terms: it’s like your immunity is a snowball that shrinks the longer you keep it rolling. “There’s a ton of Covid around, and it’s a very infectious agent,” Wachter adds.
The BA.5 Menace
BA.5 is the headline actor in the current pandemic theatrics, driving a global wave of new cases and now accounting for nearly 82 % of all U.S. coronavirus infections. So, the stakes are high—everyday people are dealing with a far more cunning and transmissible villain.
Vaccination Race: Pfizer vs. Novavax
- Pfizer: The company has “a few million shots” of a BA.4/5‑targeted vaccine ready, but the next steps are still under review.
- Novavax: The newly authorised vaccine hasn’t yet sought booster approval. According to a trial participant, it’s a great product, but the boosters are “unlikely to be available soon.” Novavax is targeting a BA.4/5 booster for release by the fourth quarter, yet that’s months away for most.
Looking Forward: The Timelines We’re Waiting For
Wachter predicts a realistic timeframe: “It seems a bit ambitious to me… it will probably go to the highest‑risk groups first,” he says. “I think it’s probably three or four months away for the average person.” Topol agrees: “Whatever is in the pipeline is months away.” He wraps it up by reminding us this variant is “more virulent, more pathogenic” and urges people to get protected as best they can.
Bottom line? The science says a second booster is a lifesaver; the supply chain says “hold your horses” for a few more months. In the meantime, keep that vaccination calendar open and your health in mind—because nobody wants to be left out in the cold when the BA.5 storm hits.
