Latest Update on COVID-19 Vaccines
August 2024

Prevention Information

• Vaccine: Updated vaccines approved by FDA as of August 22, 2024: Comirnaty® and Spikevax®
  • Comirnaty®: (Pfizer) monovalent mRNA formulation vs. JN.1 lineage / KP.2 strain spike
  • Spikevax®: (Moderna) monovalent mRNA formulation vs. JN.1 lineage / KP.2 strain spike
    CDC Update for COVID-19 Vaccines: These vaccines have demonstrated a 60 – 70% effectiveness in preventing infection and an 80 -95% effectiveness in preventing death.
  • Novavax®: (Novavax) [recombinant protein; no updated formulation available as yet]
• ACIP and CDC recommend updated vaccine at earliest availability 90d after last boost or infection.
• Masking: Practice masking, hand hygiene, distancing in situations where social exposure occurs
• Paxlovid: Within 5d of onset of symptoms in patients with PCR- or antigen-confirmed COVID-19

NMOSD Patient Information

Note: mRNA and recombinant protein vaccines approved by the FDA continue to demonstrate excellent safety and efficacy profiles; benefits significantly outweigh very rare risks; peri-vaccination conditioning (low dose 5d oral steroids prior + antihistamine day of vaccination) may reduce side effects or any rare chance of relapse; consult NMOSD specialist for vaccine timing re: therapeutics.

Virus Information

• Virus Name: SARS-CoV-2
• Virus Type: Enveloped, single-stranded (+) RNA virus
• Virus Classification: Coronaviridae family
  • (specific Genus is beta-coronavirus or betacornaviridae)
• Virus Variants: Alpha, Beta, Delta, Omicron, and other lineages
  • JN.1 Clade: Omicron lineage; K417N, S477N, E484K, N501Y, and P681R mutations
  • KP.2 strain: FLiRT variant of JN.1 lineage; additional L455F, F456L, T346R mutations
• Related Viruses: MERS; common cold beta-coronaviruses
• Other RNA viruses: Influenza; Measles; Mumps; Polio; others

Disease Information

• Disease Name: COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019)
• U.S. Incidence: Since 2020 > 100,000,000 cases and > 1M deaths in the United States alone
• Global Statistics: Since 2020 > 775,000,000 cases and > 7M deaths; > 13B vaccine doses
• Variant Cases: As of August 2024 most are Omicron lineage, JN.1 clade, KP.2 (or KP.3) strain

Epidemiology Information

• Distribution: Worldwide
• Proximate Risk: Areas or regions experiencing high incidence
• Global Risks: Worldwide; high density gatherings especially if indoors
• WHO statement: latest WHO information about COVID-19

Note: COVID-19 is largely spread by aerosol or indirect contact with an infected person. It is most commonly spread through respiratory or nasal portal of entry. Most persons have mild or moderate cases; risk factors for severe disease include elderly age, comorbidities [cancer, cerebrovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease, chronic lung disease / COPD, cystic fibrosis, heart disease, coagulation disorders, pregnancy, transplantation, substance abuse disorders, tuberculosis], altered immune competence [e.g. HIV infection, immune suppression] and anxiety / fear disorders.

Clinical Information

• Incubation Period: 2-14 days post-exposure
• Signs:
  • Hallmark: fever, chills, cough, lowering O2 levels on pulse oximetry (typically < 90)
  • Other: swollen lymph nodes
  • Differential Dx: influenza, common cold, respiratory syncytial virus, norovirus, other RT
• Symptoms:
  • Hallmark: severe fatigue, shortness of breath, headache, congestion, body aches
  • Other: loss of taste, loss of smell, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (related to age group)

IMPORTANT: Information Only – Consult Your Neurologist or Doctor