U.S. regulators granted approval for updated COVID-19 vaccines on Thursday, specifically designed to better target recent strains of the virus and potentially address any troublesome variants this winter.

With the Food and Drug Administration's authorization, Pfizer and Moderna are preparing to distribute millions of doses. A third U.S. manufacturer, Novavax, anticipates that its modified vaccine will be available shortly thereafter.

“We strongly encourage eligible individuals to consider receiving the updated COVID-19 vaccine to enhance protection against the currently circulating variants,” stated Dr. Peter Marks, the FDA's vaccine chief.

This decision by the agency was made earlier than last year's rollout of updated vaccines, coinciding with a summer surge of the virus affecting much of the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has already recommended this fall's vaccine for everyone aged 6 months and older, with vaccinations expected to commence within days.

Although a significant portion of the American population possesses some level of immunity due to previous infections or vaccinations, this immunity diminishes over time. The vaccines administered last fall were aimed at a different variant of the coronavirus that is no longer in circulation, and data from the CDC indicates that only approximately 22.5% of adults and 14% of children received these shots.

Neglecting to receive the new vaccine is considered a risky decision, as even if your previous infection was mild, the next one could be more severe or result in long COVID symptoms, according to Dr. Robert Hopkins Jr. from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.

The vaccine formulation for this fall has been designed to address a newer lineage of omicron variants. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines specifically target a subtype known as KP.2, which was prevalent earlier this year. Although other variants, especially KP.3.1.1, are currently emerging, they are sufficiently similar to provide cross-protection through the vaccines. A representative from Pfizer stated that the company has submitted data to the FDA indicating that its updated vaccine "produces a significantly enhanced response" against various virus subtypes compared to last year's vaccine.

The pressing inquiry: When is the right time to receive a vaccination? Although the current summer surge of COVID-19 is still ongoing, the upcoming winter waves are typically more severe. COVID-19 vaccines are effective in preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death; however, their efficacy against mild infections diminishes after a few months.

Individuals at high risk for the virus should not delay and should arrange for vaccinations as soon as they become available in their locality, according to Hopkins.

This group includes older adults, individuals with compromised immune systems or significant health issues, residents of nursing homes, and pregnant women.

For healthy younger adults and children, "vaccination can occur at any time. There is no compelling reason to postpone," stated Hopkins, although seeking vaccinations in the fall is advisable when a larger supply will be accessible at pharmacies and medical offices.

An exception to this guideline is noted by the CDC, which recommends that anyone who has recently recovered from COVID-19 can wait three months post-recovery before getting vaccinated, as immunity from the recent infection will begin to decrease.

Hopkins, a healthcare provider at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, emphasizes the importance of vaccinating more children this year, particularly as schools reopen amid elevated coronavirus levels nationwide.

“Fortunately, COVID-19 does not result in many fatalities among children, but it does claim more young lives than influenza,” Hopkins noted, urging that teachers should also ensure they are up to date with their vaccinations.

Health officials indicate that it is acceptable to receive both the COVID-19 and flu vaccines simultaneously, providing a convenient option to avoid multiple visits. However, while many pharmacies are currently promoting flu shots, the optimal period for receiving this vaccination generally falls between late September and October, just prior to the typical increase in flu cases during colder months.