• Basic Glitch@sh.itjust.works
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      2 days ago

      This year, however, the Department of Health and Human Services led by vaccine skeptic Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has in effect delayed the rollout of this fall’s COVID shot.

      “Updated COVID-19 vaccines have been delayed this year due to federal policy changes, and we are awaiting [Food and Drug Administration] licensure of this season’s products,” the L.A. County Department of Public Health said in a statement to The Times. “This means availability in September may be later than what people experienced last fall.”

      Chin-Hong said that the timing of the vaccine rollout is in such flux and he recommends anyone at risk for severe complications from COVID who hasn’t been vaccinated in more than a year to get inoculated now.

      "If they haven’t gotten it in a year, just go ahead, maybe, get it now,” Chin-Hong said. “Because also, the vaccine that’s being proposed [for this fall] is relatively the same formula as last year. … It’s less important to wait.”

      You should still be able to get the older version (as of now) at retail pharmacies if you can’t get it through your doctor

      • aramis87@fedia.io
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        This means availability in September may be later than what people experienced last fall.

        While this is true, we know that Moderna and Pfizer’s vaccines have their best effectiveness during the first four months (NovaVax’s initial effectiveness is a bit less than either Moderna or Pfizer, but the protection also lasts a bit longer). And we know that the virus spreads most during indoor ventilation seasons, particularly winter due to holiday gatherings.

        Due to those calculations, I’ve been getting my autumn shot in mid October. Counting the initial two-weeks for the shot to stimulate my immune system, that gives me full protection for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s and Valentine’s Day. Effectiveness will fall off around the beginning of March, by which point we’re hopefully past the main winter heating season.

        I just similar logic for my spring shot: I get vaxxed in early to mid May, giving me best protection over Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, and through the start of the new school year.

        • Basic Glitch@sh.itjust.works
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          2 days ago

          Shit, that sucks. Sorry, hope you can find somewhere. Might be worth a road trip to rural Pennsylvania.

          That’s one of the very few advantages of living in a red state. Most resources are scarce, but I’ve never had vaccines run out bc sadly a large portion of the state just flat out refuses to be vaccinated.

          • takeda@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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            2 days ago

            Vaccines have expiration dates, if pharmacies order too many one year they will order less the following one.