New COVID Boosters Approved By FDA As Cases Surge In California

CALIFORNIA — New COVID-19 booster vaccines are expected to be available later this week after the Food and Drug Administration on Monday greenlit updated shots from Pfizer and Moderna. The development comes amid a spike in COVID cases in the Golden State and just as cold and flu season ramps up. State health officials are urging residents to get fully vaccinated as another 'tripledemic' looms.

Regulators have cleared the COVID booster for use by people 12 and older, while emergency use is authorized for everyone six months or older. The shots are designed to target the XBB.1.5 omicron subvariant, which is no longer dominant. However, the drugmakers said last week that their vaccines generated a strong antibody response against a number of emerging omicron variants, including BA.2.86 and XBB.1.5, NBC News reported.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention later this week is expected to issue guidelines on who should get the new shots. It's not clear yet which groups will be encouraged to get a new booster, but the CDC last year recommended everybody get the booster shot as well as their primary 2021 shots. People over 65 were told to get a second booster.

Both hospitalizations and cases of COVID-19 are on the rise in California.

As of Sept. 8, there was a 13.7 percent test positivity rate in California over the previous seven days and 11 deaths per day, according to state data.

In the state's largest county, health officials reported a sharp increase in workplace and school outbreaks. During the month ending Sept. 1, the Los Angeles County Public Health Department opened 73 new COVID-19 outbreak investigations, nearly three times the number of outbreak investigations opened during the prior 30-day period. Similarly, the first week of September saw a 43 percent increase in school outbreaks reported in Los Angeles County.

The surge in hospitalizations and deaths began this summer and is expected to continue into the fall and winter months as people spend more time indoors.

In California, only 21.4 percent of people are considered up to date on their COVID vaccines compared to the 72.9 percent who completed their primary series, according to state data.

The surge in coronavirus cases comes as California health officials brace for another "tripledemic," a fall and winter with spiking COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus or RSV, a cold-like virus that can make infants seriously ill.

So far, the spread of the flu and RSV have been low in California, the California Department of Public Health told Patch. However, other states have reported early outbreaks of pediatric RSV, a sign that California could have another harsh cold and flu season.

"Respiratory infections like flu, COVID-19, or RSV are common during the fall and winter. While seasonal influenza (flu) viruses are detected year-round in the United States and California, flu viruses typically circulate at higher levels during the fall and winter during what’s known as the flu season,” a state health department spokesperson told Patch in an email.

"The exact timing and duration of flu seasons varies, but flu activity often begins to increase in October," the spokesperson said. "Most of the time flu activity peaks between December and February, although significant activity can last as late as May. RSV typically circulates at higher levels during October through the end of March.”

That means now is the time to get vaccinated, health officials said.

"We are therefore urging all Californians 6 months of age and older to get vaccinated against the flu now, even if they have already gotten a COVID-19 vaccine," The California Department of Public Health said via email. "The RSV vaccine is now available for adults 60 years and older, expecting mothers and infants. Families and individuals are encouraged to check with their health care provider."

For the first time, the government won’t pay for the COVID-19 booster, as it has for others since vaccines became available in 2021. Moderna and Pfizer have said they plan to offer the shots for about $110 to $130. Patients should consult their insurance plans for coverage options.

Paige Austin contributed to this report.