Your fall COVID-19 update

A new COVID-19 vaccine option, new booster doses, and a new online tool to check when you’re eligible for another dose

Novavax: Another COVID-19 vaccine option

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine in July 2022 under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine provides another alternative for adults ages 18 and older who haven’t been vaccinated against COVID-19. It’s currently not authorized for use as a booster dose.

The vaccine is given in two doses, three weeks apart. It’s unique among the available options in the U.S. because it uses a different, more traditional vaccine technology. The vaccine introduces proteins from the virus that promote immunity in the body.

As with the other COVID-19 vaccines, side effects are typically mild (i.e., fever, chills, tiredness, and headache), but some cases of heart inflammation have been reported in people who have received the Novavax vaccine.

Omicron-specific boosters now available

Boosters designed to target the omicron variant of COVID-19 are available now, so it’s a good time to make sure you’re up to date on all your vaccinations.

Fall is also the time that the annual flu shot is made available — and you can get a flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine (including a booster) at the same time.

It’s important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before getting any vaccine to ensure you have the right protection for you. Pharmacists can also help answer any questions you may have about medications you’re taking and how they interact with vaccines.

Find out when you can get another dose

While vaccines and boosters may not prevent you from getting COVID-19, they still play an important role in preventing hospitalization and more severe symptoms.

Boosters can enhance or restore protection that may have decreased over time, after your first series of shots. It’s important to stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines so you stay protected.

Vaccine guidelines and available vaccines are changing rapidly. Wondering if you or a family member is eligible based on age, health, and any previous doses? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) created an online tool so you don’t have to guess.

Don’t forget to keep some at-home COVID-19 tests on hand

COVID-19 tests are available to purchase online, in pharmacies, and in retail stores. Express Scripts® Pharmacy has them, too, if covered under your prescription benefits.

Many private health insurance plans, as well as Medicare and Medicaid, will reimburse the cost of up to eight tests per person per month during this public health emergency. Some insurance plans cover the cost of at-home rapid COVID-19 tests up front without requiring you to submit a reimbursement claim. Reach out to your insurance provider to find out their coverage details.