COVID-19 ‘new variant’ cases rising but updated boosters unavailable for now

COVID-19 cases are rising but an approved new booster remains unavailable to the general public.

COVID-19 variants including EG.5 and FL.1.5.1 are spreading across the United States and COVID-related hospitalizations are up nearly 16% since August 20, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

One of the most high-profile recent cases of COVID-19 was when First Lady Jill Biden, who reportedly received the original vaccine and two boosters, tested positive this week. President Biden has reportedly tested negative. The First Lady's Communications Director Elizabeth Alexander issued a statement saying that "she is currently experiencing only mild symptoms."

Michelle Barron, a professor of medicine and infectious diseases at the University of Colorado School of Medicine said that there's "no evidence yet to suggest that this variant is more infectious or causes worse symptoms."

“It’s like all the variants of interest and concern. We need to keep an eye on it. But we don’t know how it will impact us yet, if at all," she said.

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer said that their "Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine has not been approved or licensed by the FDA, but has been authorized for emergency use by the FDA." On the heels of a positive review on August 30 by the European Medicines Agency, Pfizer said that "following a decision from the European Commission, the updated vaccine will be ready to ship to applicable EU member states immediately."

Moderna issued a press release yesterday saying that "Clinical trial data from a research assay confirmed Moderna's updated COVID-19 vaccine showed an 8.7 to 11-fold increase in neutralizing antibodies against COVID-19."  The pharmaceutical company added that "Moderna has shared this data with regulators and is ready to supply its updated COVID-19 vaccine pending regulatory approval." 

According to the CDC, these and other new COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be approved and available in the U.S. at some point in the fall.

"On June 15, 2023, an FDA advisory committee met to talk about COVID-19 vaccines and additional strains of the COVID-19 virus," read a CDC webpage. "They recommended that COVID-19 vaccines should be updated to provide protection against the Omicron variant XBB.1.5 for use by the fall of 2023."

New COVID-19 booster shots will likely be available in mid-September, a spokesperson for the CDC told Just the News on Wednesday. 

"The ACIP [Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices] is meeting next week to discuss recommendations for the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine," said the agency spokesperson. "And while we can’t say what the possible recommendations will be, or who (if anyone) would be prioritized; we expect the vaccine to be available in mid-September."

An FDA spokesperson also confirmed to Just the News the availability of the booster will be determined in mid-September.

After May 30, 2023, the FDA had recommended that patients receive "bivalent COVID-19 vaccines" to protect against the "omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5 lineages." However, availability of those vaccines vary by location and do not protect against the newest variants of COVID-19. 

It is still unclear whether all health insurance plans will cover the new COVID vaccine at no-charge to patients as a preventative medical service whenever it becomes available. 

Just the News asked the American Association of Health Plans, a trade association for health insurance companies, if the new COVID boosters will be covered by most medical insurance plans.

"Vaccines save lives, stemming the spread of disease and protecting the health of Americans and our communities. Health insurance providers cover ACIP-recommended immunizations at no cost share to patients," wrote Kristine Grow, senior vice president of communications and public affairs at the organization. "FDA and CDC still need to take action to approve and recommend the updated COVID vaccines, which is expected to occur in mid-September." 

The new variant, and attendant approval of a new round of vaccines may present a windfall for BigPharma and its executives. CNBC reported that the COVID-19 pandemic propelled Pfizer’s earnings to a record $100 billion last year, almost "$57 billion of which was driven by its vaccine and antiviral pill Paxlovid."

Pharmaceutical newsletter Fierce Pharma noted in March that C-suite executives are reaping a windfall as well. Fierce Pharma reported that "Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel earned $19.4 million in 2022" but that having helped the company reach $18.4 billion in global vaccine sales, he also "collected more than $392 million in sales of stock he owned in the company."

Bancel said that he plans to donate his after-tax proceeds to charity.