New COVID-19, RSV vaccines on their way to Oregon

The Food and Drug Administration has authorized updated COVID-19 vaccines aimed at more recent viral variants and they are expected to be available soon.

COVID-19 infections have been rising nationally and in Oregon since early July, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows. Nationally, hospitalizations are up nearly 16% and deaths nearly 17% in the week that ended Sept. 7, compared with the week before that. However, totals remain well below the previous peak.

Dr. Mandy Cohen, director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, signed off on the recommendation that all Americans age 6 months and older receive the updated COVID-19 booster.

The FDA approved the new boosters for individuals age 12 and older and authorized emergency use of the vaccine for those 6 months to 11 years old.

There is some debate within the medical community about whether everyone stands to benefit substantially from another booster shot.

It's clear, experts say, that people who have multiple health problems or whose immune systems are weakened by age, illness or medications should get boosted at least once a year and possibly more.

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"People who are immune compromised, people who have obesity and diabetes, chronic heart, liver, kidney, neurologic disease — those are people who really do benefit," said Dr. Paul Offit, who directs the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. "If you're not vaccinated, you should be vaccinated."

Dr. Jesse Goodman, a professor of medicine and infectious diseases at Georgetown University, chairs a COVID-19 Vaccine Analysis Team, an informal group of vaccine experts.

"People who are older and people with chronic diseases should clearly get revaccinated," Goodman said. "I'm still seeing older and immunocompromised people get severe disease. Much less than before, which is wonderful, but … for people who need it, it has definite value."

2 COVID-19 vaccines have been approved

The FDA's actions Monday related just to the vaccines manufactured by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech.

Both of their vaccines will be updated to target the omicron variant XBB.1.5, which was the dominant variant this spring and early summer.

It has since been replaced by other variants, but early research suggests the new vaccines will be protective against those variants, as well.

The FDA officially:

• Approved use of the updated version of Comirnaty, Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine, for people 12 and older.

• Approved use of the updated version of Spikevax, Moderna's vaccine, for people 18 and older.

• Authorized use of the updated versions of both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna's vaccines for emergency use in children ages 6 months through 11 years.

Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech are expected to have vaccines ready to be delivered to pharmacies and health centers as soon as a recommendation is issued.

Unlike previous years of the pandemic, the government will no longer cover the cost of all COVID-19 vaccinations. People with health insurance should have coverage for the shot, but people without insurance may have to pay out of pocket the $110-$130 per shot.

When and where will vaccines be available in Oregon?

Arrival of new COVID-19 vaccines to Oregon could come as early as next week, a pivotal moment in Oregon's COVID-19 response, said Paul Cieslak, medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations in the Oregon Health Authority public health division.

"This means we’ve taken a big step toward normalizing COVID-19 as something we live with and manage much as we do for influenza," Cieslak said.

Vaccines will be shipped directly to health care providers and pharmacies, and will be covered at no cost by commercial health insurers and the Oregon Health Plan.

The Oregon Health Authority is recommending individuals receive updated COVID-19 vaccines when they get their flu shots.

Individuals can get the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines by contacting their health plan, health care provider or county public health clinic. Search for a clinic by ZIP code by visiting vaccinefinder.org.

What about RSV vaccines?

RSV vaccines for adults age 60 and older are now available. People can check with their insurance plan to determine whether the RSV immunization is covered.

A new RSV vaccine for babies and toddlers should become available later this fall, the Oregon Health Authority said.

Oregon's Vaccine Access Program provides free vaccines to eligible children and adults, but RSV vaccines are not yet available through state-sponsored vaccine programs.

The CDC has yet to announce a timeline for arrival of RSV vaccines to these programs, Oregon Health Authority stated.

Statesman Journal reporter Sydney Wyatt contributed to this story.

Contact Karen Weintraub at kweintraub@usatoday.com.

Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: FDA approves new COVID-19 vaccine, shots available soon in Oregon