The Asian reporter. (Portland, Or.) 1991-current, October 02, 2023, Page 13, Image 13

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    U.S.A.
October 2, 2023
THE ASIAN REPORTER n Page 13
What to know as fall vaccinations against
COVID, flu, and RSV get underway
By Lauran Neergaard
The Associated Press
ASHINGTON
—
Updated
COVID-19 vaccines may be
getting a little easier for adults
to find but they’re still frustratingly scarce
for young children. Health officials say the
kid shots have started shipping — and
reminded most everyone to get a fall flu
shot too.
About 2 million Americans have re-
ceived the new COVID-19 shot in the two
weeks since its approval despite early bar-
riers from insurance companies and other
glitches, according to the Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS).
For the first time, the U.S. has vaccines
to fight a trio of viruses that cause fall and
winter misery. But health officials worry
that shot fatigue and hassles in getting
them will leave too many people needlessly
unprotected.
“We need to use them,” Dr. Mandy
Cohen, director of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), said.
“Right now is the right time.”
A flu vaccination and that updated
COVID-19 shot are urged for just about
everyone, starting with babies as young as
6 months.
Also this year, a vaccine against another
scary virus called RSV is recommended for
people 60 and older and for certain
pregnant women. And for babies, a
vaccine-like medicine to guard against
that respiratory syncytial virus is expected
to arrive in October.
“These vaccines may not be perfect in
being able to prevent absolutely every
infection with these illnesses, but they
turn a wild infection into a milder one,”
said Dr. William Schaffner of Vanderbilt
University and the National Foundation
for Infectious Diseases.
Some things to know:
Why do I need another
COVID-19 shot?
This year’s vaccine is updated to protect
W
against newer versions of the constantly
evolving coronavirus. Already there’s been
a late summer jump in infections, hospi-
talizations, and deaths. And so far the new
vaccine recipe appears to be a good match
to the variants currently circulating.
Protection against COVID-19, whether
from vaccination or from an earlier
infection, wanes over time — and most
Americans haven’t had a vaccine dose in
about a year. Everyone age 5 and older will
need just one shot this fall even if they’ve
never had a prior vaccination, while
younger children may need additional
doses depending on their vaccination and
infection history.
How hard is it to find
COVID-19 shots?
The rollout’s start has been messy. This
time the government isn’t buying and
distributing shots for free. Now
drugstores, doctors’ offices, and other
providers had to place their own orders,
and sometimes cancelled appointments if
supplies didn’t arrive in time. Some people
had to wait for their insurance companies
to update the billing codes needed to cover
them or risk paying out of pocket.
Manufacturers Pfizer and Moderna
have shipped millions of doses, and say
there’s plenty of supply — and in recent
days, more appointments have started
opening, at least for people 12 and older. In
a recent meeting, insurance companies
told HHS secretary Xavier Becerra they’ve
largely resolved the paperwork issues
blocking some patients’ vaccinations.
The shots are supposed to be provided
free in-network to the insured. For the
uninsured or underinsured, CDC has
opened what it’s calling a “bridge” program
to provide free shots at certain sites.
Why can’t parents find
COVID-19 shots for younger kids?
Adult doses got shipped first, CDC’s
Cohen said. Doses for the under-12 set
have begun shipping, and “the supply is
filling out,” she said.
Drugstore chain CVS said its doses for
ages 5 and older began arriving in late
September, although supplies vary by
location, while its MinuteClinic locations
anticipated appointments opening for tots
as young as 18 months soon.
As for pediatricians, they’ve had to guess
how many doses to buy up-front while
1
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FALL & WINTER VIRUS TRIO. Updated
COVID-19 vaccines may be getting a little easier for
adults to find but they’re still frustratingly scarce for
young children. Health officials say the kid shots have
started shipping — and reminded most everyone
to get a fall flu shot too. Pictured is 13-month-old
Zachary Lee of Portland receiving a COVID-19 vaccine
at Oregon Health & Science University’s Doernbecher
Children’s Hospital in this June 25, 2022 file photo.
(Photo/Christine Torres Hicks, courtesy of Oregon
Health & Science University, File)
waiting to learn how much insurance
companies would reimburse them for each
shot, said Dr. Jesse Hackell of the
American Academy of Pediatrics. He said
early parent demand is heartening but
that pediatricians expect to spend lots of
time this fall explaining to hesitant
families how important COVID-19
vaccination is even for healthy children.
In Redmond, Washington, Ania Mitros
got herself, her husband, and her
13-year-old vaccinated pretty easily but
despite calls to multiple pharmacies and
clinics couldn’t find anyone to tell her
when shots for her 8- and 11-year-old will
be available. “There need to be clear
expectations,” she said.
What about flu vaccine?
Fewer Americans received a flu vaccine
last year than before the coronavirus
pandemic — a discouraging gap that CDC
hopes to reverse.
People need a flu vaccine every fall
because influenza also mutates each year.
Like with COVID-19, flu is most danger-
ous to older adults, the very young, and
people with weak immune systems; those
with lung, heart, or other chronic health
problems; or those who are pregnant.
There are multiple kinds of flu vaccines,
including a nasal spray version for certain
younger people. More important, three
kinds are specifically recommended for
seniors because they do a better job revving
up an older adult’s immune system.
Can I get a flu shot and
COVID-19 shot at the same time?
Yes, although one in each arm might be
Continued on page 16
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