While Covid-19 may seem like a nightmare of years past, the many variants of the virus and potential long term health impacts continue to linger throughout many communities across the United States. This past September the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the latest defense against Covid-19 in the form of the most updated vaccine, Novavax.

Similar to the original vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer), Novavax works to help boost a defense to the ever-changing variants of Covid-19. As with vaccines for other illnesses, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) highly recommends anyone over the age of five obtain this vaccine for protection against serious illness, becoming hospitalized and even death.

Longtime Mt. Hood Villages resident and physician, Dr. Doug Lyon, also highly recommends getting this new vaccine for added protection to this ever-changing virus. “A Covid shot this fall is important to protect you from Covid,” Lyon said. “It’s designed to better protect you against the new variants of Covid that are now circulating in the United States,” Lyon added. As with any vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration and the Center for Disease Control, the new Covid-19 vaccine is considered safe for the general public. According to Lyon the positive benefits of this vaccine outweigh any potential negative side effects. “The benefits of the Covid-19 vaccine continue to outweigh any risk,” Lyon said. “Serious reactions after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine are rare according to the CDC,” Lyon added. The CDC’s study also showed that the risk of cardiac complications, including myocarditis (an inflammation of the heart muscle) in males ages 12-17 years old was 1.8-5.6 times higher after a Covid-19 infection than after Covid-19 vaccinations.

Unlike its vaccine predecessors, the Novavax vaccine does not require previous boosters or Covid-19 vaccinations prior to obtaining the shot. According to both Lyon and the CDC, any and all vaccines that help fight and prevent Covid-19 are important heading into the cold weather seasons, but the Novavax vaccine has the ability to defend the body against this ever-changing virus. “The new vaccines better target (are more effective against) the new variants that have developed over the last two years,” Lyon said. According to the CDC, this new vaccine targets XBB.1.5, a new sub-variant of Omicron that has spread quickly across the United States. The CDC goes on to say that the Novavax vaccine should also work against currently circulating variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus which has been linked to the XBB strain.

Both Lyon and the C.D.C strongly urge the general public to consider protecting themselves this flu and cold season with the Novavax vaccine and explain how important it is to our communities to be wellness prepared. “The best defense is a good offense,” Lyon said. “In some people there are long term complications from getting Covid, among them death,” Lyon added.

For more information on where you can receive your Covid vaccine contact your doctor or visit the cdc.gov