- The latest COVID booster was approved for people six months and older this week
- A local doctor says those recently infected or otherwise healthy don't need it
- Those with underlying health conditions and the elderly are recommended to get it
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The newest COVID-19 booster was approved by the FDA and CDC this week, said to fight off the latest strain. However, a local doctor says it’s not for everyone.
The shot, being released by both Pfizer and Moderna, is designed to immunize people over six months of age against the current national strain. Dr. Jeffrey Jahre says that’s not the strain in the Lehigh Valley right now.
"We know what strains are in this area and they're not the strains that the CDC says are taking over the country. The strains that are in this area are primarily the XB 1.11 type strains and we've done our own studies to show that, and we're continuing to do it to see whether it's going to evolve,” said Jahre, the Senior Vice President of Medical and Academic Affairs Section Chief Emeritus of Infectious Diseases at St. Luke’s University Health Network. He said St. Luke's works closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Health to conduct the local research.
“One size never fits all and so I want to make sure that people understand that there are, at least from our point of view over here at St. Luke's, certain groups of individuals that may not want to avail themselves of this new booster."Jeffrey Jahre, the Senior Vice President of Medical and Academic Affairs Section Chief Emeritus of Infectious Diseases at St. Luke’s University Health Network
"As with everything and some of the problems that we always have with the CDC recommendations and the FDA is that they have a tendency to always make it that one size fits all,” he added.
“One size never fits all and so I want to make sure that people understand that there are, at least from our point of view over here at St. Luke's, certain groups of individuals that may not want to avail themselves of this new booster."
The infectious disease specialist said higher-risk groups like the elderly, those with underlying health issues and pregnant people should get the booster; otherwise, healthy people may not need it.
Those who have had COVID recently are also thought to have immunity for at least 3 months. He went on to say the booster should be available at St. Luke's next week, but the best practice is for people to talk to their doctor to see if the vaccine is a good fit.
Lehigh Valley Health Network said they expect to let patients know booster availability at their facilities by the end of this week.
This latest booster is a monovalent vaccine, as opposed to the bivalent vaccine released last fall.
Jahre also said there is a third vaccine maker, called Novavax, expected to get approval in the coming weeks for another COVID booster that does not use the mRNA technology used in the other two.
