The FDA says it is time to update the coronavirus vaccines, following a vote from an expert panel earlier this week. The move is to better match the variants currently circulating in our country. Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt Medical Center, joined Cheddar news to discuss the latest recommendation. "Think about an analogous virus, the influenza virus. It changes also, as does COVID, and we update that influenza vaccine each and every year," he said. "So something similar is starting to happen here with [the] COVID vaccine. We anticipate by this fall we'll have COVID vaccine 2.0."

Cheddar's News Wrap

FDA Recommends Updating COVID Boosters to Fight Omicron

Welcome back to Cheddar news drop everyone. The FDA says it is time to update the coronavirus vaccines. Following a vote from an expert panel earlier this week. The move is to better match the variants currently circulating in our country. While current Covid 19 vaccines offer strong protection against hospitalization and death, their ability to block infections dropped when the super contagious a microns of variants emerged. Joining me now is friend of the show. Dr William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt Medical Center. Dr Schaffner, welcome back. We always love having you on the show. The CDC says the american sub variants B A four and be a five now account for over half of all cases in our country. Covid cases. Do you agree with the F. D A. That is that an update is necessary? Well, Hannah, I think this decision was long anticipated by myself and many others. You know, think about an analogous virus, the influenza virus. It changes also as does covid and we update that influenza vaccine each and every year and so something similar is starting to happen here with covid vaccine. We anticipate by this fall we'll have Covid vaccine two point oh we will update it and it will be what we call a bi valent vaccine. Some of the original vaccine and some new vaccine against the omicron strains and the anticipation is that we that that vaccine will work even better against these variants than the current vaccine does. So, can we talk about that? How is the updated booster different than the other ones from Moderna and Fizer and possibly even Novavax. Novavax. Well, both of the major manufacturers Moderna and Pfizer's are working on these updated vaccines. And the current vaccine is a single vaccine. It's anticipated that this new vaccine will be a by violent. We'll have 22 vaccines in it. One, the original one and number 21 that's tailored more to these omicron variants In recent weeks. As you well know doctor, more than 100,000 new coronavirus cases have been reported in this country. It could be even more because as you well know a lot of cases go unreported. What is the state of the pandemic currently in the United States? Well, Hannah, I think we've moved from pandemic where the health care system was really flooded with covid patients to what we call endemic. That means the virus is out there smoldering but we have to keep containing it. We have to develop a truce with this virus and the way to do that is to keep vaccinating Because previous infection or previous vaccination, although it provides good protection against hospitalization that does begin to wane after nine months, 10 months a year or thereabouts. And so the notion is that periodically we'll have to remind our immune system to get busy again and make more protection. That's what we do with flu vaccine. We get a flu shot each and every year or that's what's recommended and it may it may well be that that's what we'll have to do with Covid also. And we hope that Covid vaccine 2.0 is already available this fall. So we know summer is upon us and I hate to mention this, but fall is right around the corner where all the research and data be completed by the fall. Dr Schaffner. You see my fingers are crossed, there are high hopes that yes, both manufacturers will have a new vaccine available sometime this fall and you may hear the annual influenza vaccination campaign now augmented. Roll up one sleeve for your flu shot and the other sleeve for your updated Covid vaccine. Dr Schaffner as you well know the FDA authorized Covid 19 vaccines for Children under the age of five. I have a lot of parent friends who are a little reluctant to get their kids vaccinated. I'm sure you hear that from your patients. What would you say to these parents who may be a little reluctant reluctance is natural questions are normal. Ask them of your pediatrician and family doctor. Those are the people who are there for you and your Children day in and day out. You have confidence in them. You trust them. Take a little time and ask them always. Great advice. Dr Schaffner. We love having you on dr William Schaffner, Professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt Medical Center. Thank you so much