The new COVID booster could be the last you'll need for a year, federal officials say

Federal health officials say that the U.S. has reached an important milestone in the Pandemic.

In the future, COVID-19 could be treated like the flu, with one annual shot offering year-long protection against severe illness for most people.

"For a large majority of Americans, we are moving to a point where a single, annual COVID shot should provide a high degree of protection against serious illness all year," said White House COVID response coordinators.

New versions of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines are being rolled out by the federal government in the fall.

If the flu shot becomes more popular in the future, the vaccine could be changed again. Every fall, people get a new flu vaccine that protects against any strains of the flu that are likely to be circulating that season. The hope is that the COVID boosters will follow suit.

Older people with health problems may need to be boosted more often. For most people, this booster will be the last one they need.

Officials say they are ready to reprogram the vaccines again if necessary because the virus has been evolving much faster than expected.

The White House adviser said that the wild card was a way-out-of- left-field variant. The recommendations might change if that happens. He says the annual shot should be able to cover whatever variant is out there.

There is still debate about how much of an upgrade the new boosters will actually be. Some infectious disease experts don't think the updated vaccines will be a game-changer because they haven't been tested.

The risk is that we put all our eggs in one basket. boosting with vaccines is our focus. People are looking for a silver bullet, that's the problem. Boosters are not a panacea.

Following a low demand for the initial booster shots, federal officials are worried that a low number of people will sign up for the new ones. Only 34% of people over 50 have gotten their second booster.

As we head into the winter, the administration wants everyone to be boosted right away to help protect themselves and the people around them. It is recommended that people wait at least two months after their last shot and at least three months after their last infections. They can get a booster at the same time as a flu shot.

The new boosters are likely to be the last for free because Congress has refused to provide additional funding to fight the Pandemic. People with insurance will get their coverage. The administration is trying to make sure that uninsured people have access to the vaccine.