When (and where) should you get your new COVID shot? We asked a Pennsylvania doctor
As another summer ends, another round of COVID-19 vaccines is here and starting to roll out across the country.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration last week gave the green light to a pair of updated COVID-19 vaccines that seek to protect patients from the latest strains of the virus. The new booster shots might leave you and many other Americans with questions, including concerns about the vaccine’s necessity or worries about finding an appointment.
Keeping all the news straight remains a challenge now more than four years into the coronavirus pandemic. Here’s what you need to know about the updated vaccines and finding an appointment near you in central Pennsylvania.
What are the new boosters?
The recently approved vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna target the KP.2 variant, the strain of coronavirus that began widely circulating earlier this year. Some of the variants that are most prevalent across the U.S. now remain very similar to KP.2, which should keep booster shots effective.
Dr. Stanley Martin, the director of the Geisinger health network’s Division of Infectious Diseases, said the updated vaccines are critical in protecting patients from potentially severe outcomes — including hospitalization or death — if they contract COVID-19.
“I think it’s important we start to shift our mindset a little bit away from the concept of a ‘booster vaccine’ and instead think of them a bit more like a flu shot,” Martin said Monday. “You get a new flu shot every year because the flu is different every year. Certainly, this is what we’ve seen happen with COVID as well. It has continued to evolve and change over time, and the immunity you get from vaccines doesn’t last forever anyway. With a new virus, there’s a need for a new vaccine annually.”
The new vaccines’ approval comes as COVID-19 infection rates, hospitalizations and deaths are generally rising across the country this summer, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pennsylvania’s health department no longer publicly reports these figures on a regular basis, but Martin says COVID-19-related upticks are noticeable throughout Geisinger’s health system.
“We have not seen [a higher number of cases] translate into the same number of hospitalizations and deaths that we’ve seen historically from high amounts of COVID infection in the community, and that’s a good thing,” Martin said. “But we still see it, and we still have patients in our hospitals who have COVID. We still see people die from it.”
Who should get new boosters?
People who are at the highest risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms should prioritize getting an updated vaccine as soon as possible, Martin said. These include those who are 65 and older, those who are pregnant or have compromised immune systems and anyone with underlying medical conditions, such as heart or lung issues.
Broadly, these new vaccines are approved for adults and children six months and older. Both the FDA and the CDC offer suggested schedules for receiving the new COVID-19 vaccine that vary for several age ranges.
“They’re very effective,” Martin said of the new vaccines. “The virus is going to continue to evolve, but we know these vaccines are very safe and very effective despite misinformation you may find online. The biggest thing they do is help prevent serious complications. So, even if you get a vaccine and three months later you actually get the infection, that infection is much, much more likely to be a very mild infection.”
Can I get my flu shot, too?
Yes. By all accounts, there’s no need to wait to receive your annual influenza vaccine as flu season approaches this fall. Both vaccines remain effective, even if they are administered on the same day.
“I myself have done that in the past, and it’s proven to be safe and effective,” Martin said. “When you have a busy schedule, it’s good to get things out of the way, right?”
A CDC study in 2022 found people who received flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time were slightly more likely to experience mild reactions to the shots, including fatigue, headache or muscle aches than those who received just one vaccine. Most symptoms fade quickly without the need for medical attention.
What if I recently got a COVID-19 vaccine?
Those who recently received a COVID-19 vaccine — or recently contracted the virus — should wait a bit before receiving one of the updated vaccines. Both the FDA and CDC recommend waiting at least two or three months after a COVID-19 infection before receiving a vaccine, as contracting the virus inherently provides a bit of immunity.
Will insurance cover COVID-19 vaccines?
In Pennsylvania, COVID-19 vaccines received through in-network providers usually come at no cost for most people with health insurance plans or coverage through state-level and federal programs, including Medicare and Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Coverage may be available through other programs, such as the federally funded Vaccines for Children program.
According to data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax (whose latest booster has not yet received federal approval) are changing up to $150 per COVID-19 vaccine dose.
Where can I schedule an appointment in Centre County?
The newest COVID-19 vaccines are already rolling out across the country, but it might take a bit to find an appointment near you. In an interview Monday, Martin said he expects the Geisinger health network to have doses of the new shots by September or even as early as next week.
“Oftentimes, we’re finding out just as they’re arriving on our doorstep,” he said.
Once the new vaccines are available, Geisinger will offer them to patients through its pediatric clinics, pharmacy locations and 65 Forward health centers, which specialize in care for older patients. All three options are available in the State College area. You can find a location near you by using the online look-up tool at geisinger.org/patient-care/find-a-location.
Mount Nittany Health, meanwhile, will offer flu shots and updated COVID-19 vaccines at its primary care locations, a spokesperson said Tuesday. The health network also plans to offer two drive-thru vaccine clinics and expects to share more details in the coming days.
COVID-19 vaccines are also available through most pharmacies in the Centre County area.
According to CVS’ online scheduling tool, patients can already book appointments for the new COVID-19 vaccines. Time slots are scarce for the next few days, but openings are widely available as soon as early next week at the following locations in Centre County:
- 116 W. College Ave. in State College
- 1630 S. Atherton St. in State College
- 1101 N. Atherton St. in State College
- 315 Colonnade Blvd. in State College
- 127 S. Potter St. in Bellefonte
Though many of the company’s locations have closed in Pennsylvania and across the country, Rite Aid will offer updated COVID-19 shots, too. As of Tuesday morning, the nearest locations offering the new vaccines are in Tyrone and Huntingdon. The company’s last remaining Centre County location closed earlier this year.
Weis supermarkets throughout Centre County should eventually offer the updated COVID-19 shots once they are available. The following stores have pharmacies as of 2024:
- 110 Rolling Ridge Drive in State College
- 170 Buckaroo Lane in Bellefonte
- 501 N. Centre St. in Philipsburg
The only Wegmans in Centre County, located at 345 Colonnade Blvd. in State College, will likely offer the new boosters through its pharmacy, too. Planned upgrades for the store are expected to add dedicated vaccination rooms for pharmacy patients.
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