The sixth wave of the domestic COVID-19 pandemic has reached its peak this week, with 987 new cases of complications and 99 deaths reported last week, both marking new weekly highs for 2024. To prevent the upcoming threat of fall and winter outbreaks, the CDC announced that it will purchase 6 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines this year, including 5.5 million doses of Moderna and 500,000 doses of Novavax. The selected vaccine strain is JN.1, which is also recommended by the World Health Organization.
Starting October 1, the JN.1 COVID-19 vaccine will be administered concurrently with the flu vaccine. (Photo/Source: Flicker Image Library)
Vaccination Program
Starting October 1, the JN.1 COVID-19 vaccine will be administered concurrently with the flu vaccine. The Infectious Disease Prevention Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Health and Welfare stated that after receiving the JN.1 vaccine, there is not only a high antibody response to JN.1 but also a good antibody response to KP.2 and KP.3.
The CDC announced that the publicly funded flu and JN.1 COVID-19 vaccines will be administered in two phases. The first phase, starting October 1, will prioritize healthcare workers, seniors aged 65 and above, pregnant women, students from six months old to high school, residents of long-term care facilities, and nannies. The second phase, starting November 1, will expand to include the general population for the JN.1 COVID-19 vaccine and provide flu vaccines to adults aged 50 to 64.
The Novavax vaccine may be available for administration as early as the end of this year. (Photo/Source: Yahoo Taiwan Image Library)
Vaccination Targets and Precautions
The target for COVID-19 vaccinations this year is 20% of the total population, approximately 4.6 million doses, with high-risk individuals possibly requiring two doses. The CDC reminds the public that there should be a 12-week interval between COVID-19 vaccine doses. The Novavax vaccine is expected to be submitted to the FDA for review in August and could be available for administration by the end of the year.
Currently, there are about 2.7 million doses of the XBB vaccine in stock, which will expire at the end of the year and will then be discarded. The CDC urges the public to cooperate with the vaccination plan to jointly combat the pandemic and protect the health of themselves and their families.
For more detailed information and vaccination arrangements, please continue to follow the CDC's official website and related news announcements.
