The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests everyone six months and older should get one of the new 2024 versions of the COVID vaccines when they become available this fall.

The new vaccines went to manufacturing this month after receiving federal regulatory approval.

“It’s important for everyone to understand that this year’s COVID is different from last year’s COVID,” said Dr. Zach Miller, an infectious disease expert with the Vashon Medical Reserve Corps. “The COVID virus constantly mutates, so the vaccine has been adjusted annually to be more effective by targeting the new variants. We know from experience over the last four years that the mutations evolve to evade the immune defenses most of us have built up from previous vaccine doses and repeat COVID infections.”

According to the CDC, two new variants, KP.3 and LB.1, account for more than half of new COVID cases nationwide. Those two variants did not exist last year. However, the new variants are descendants of Omicron and the more recent JN.1 variants. The new vaccine targets that variant family, as two CDC expert advisory panels recommended.

You might want to consider the timing of your next vaccination. If you want to get vaccinated now because of the summer surge or other risk factors, do it as soon as possible. That’s because there’s some possibility the 2024 vaccine could be available as soon as late August or early September.

If that timing holds, you might need to delay getting the new vaccine because you might need to wait several months between vaccinations to optimize the vaccine benefit. The timing is still being worked out.

Last year’s updated vaccine had a good track record for preventing serious disease and hospitalization. In addition, the 2023 vaccine prevented just over 50% of symptomatic COVID during the winter respiratory disease season.

Over the next few months, VashonBePrepared will continue to provide information on the availability of the new versions of the COVID vaccines.

CDC: Summer COVID surge underway

The CDC reports that the number of COVID cases has been rising nationwide. COVID cases, according to the CDC, have been increasing in at least 44 of the 50 states.

There’s a lack of Vashon-specific COVID data since the pandemic emergency declaration ended last year. But we have some indicators from Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC) showing the expected annual summer surge has begun in our region.

• Regional wastewater monitoring for the COVID virus shows sharp increases over the last several weeks, following a gradual rise that began in May. The wastewater data comes from three large King and Snohomish County mainland sewage treatment plants. No wastewater COVID monitoring takes place on Vashon.

• Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC) tabulation of laboratory tests shows a surge in positive COVID test results that began in May. As with other COVID metrics, the total number of lab tests reported has declined with the end of the pandemic emergency declaration, but the uptick in positive test results shows a clear trend of increased COVID infections.

• The percentage of emergency department visits with a COVID diagnosis has also been rising since May. In late June, 2.25% of visits to emergency departments yielded a COVID diagnosis. That’s still below the alert threshold of 3.0% set by PHSKC, but if the current trend continues, the alert threshold will soon be reached.

Protecting yourself and loved ones from COVID

The median age of Vashon residents is around 55, compared to around 35 for mainland King County. That means our island population is at greater risk than the mainland population.

We know from experience over the last four years that older people are at significantly greater risk of serious disease and even hospitalization if they get COVID. Given Vashon’s older population, it makes sense to continue the basic steps we all learned at the height of the pandemic.

• Get vaccinated. The best protection is to get vaccinated. Stay current on COVID-19 vaccinations, especially if you’re 50 and older or have a health condition.

• Wear a mask in high-risk settings (such as crowded places) to protect yourself and others, especially people with medical conditions who are less able to fight the virus.

• Test for COVID if you have symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who tests positive.

• If you test positive for COVID, getting treatment early can help stave off severe illness and hospitalization. That’s especially important if you are at higher risk from the disease. Ask your healthcare provider to see if treatment such as Paxlovid is recommended for you.

• Keep activities small and outdoors, especially if you suspect that unvaccinated people will be participating.

• Good indoor airflow, ventilation, and air filters can reduce airborne virus particles at home or work.

• Don’t bring COVID home. Even though younger people are less likely to have serious consequences from COVID, they are probably not the only folks in your household. One major way that older people get COVID is from family members who bring the virus home from school, work, camp, or summer travels.

Stage 1 Burn Ban

With dry conditions and high temperatures moving in, a Stage 1 burn ban has been put in place for unincorporated (non-city) areas of King County, including Vashon.

The ban prohibits yard debris fires or fires to clear land. Still permitted: recreational fires and use of gas/propane appliances — including grills, pellet smokers and charcoal grills.

Vashon Island Fire & Rescue Chief Matt Vinci urged islanders: “It takes our entire community to protect our Island. Please do your part. Adhere to the burn ban and take precautions to prevent wildfires on Vashon.”

The Chief added that “VIFR firefighters are on the frontlines and ready to respond with enhanced equipment and staffing to protect our island.”

In announcing the burn ban, King County Fire Marshal Eric Urban said: “We are coming into the busy summer season. … While it’s a time to celebrate and have fun with family and friends, it’s also a time when the risk of fire increases. Our first responders are always working hard to respond to any and all emergencies, but the community can do its part by obeying the Stage 1 Burn Ban to help prevent uncontrolled fires.”

Urban also urged residents who smoke to use extreme caution with their ashes or when they’re extinguishing cigarettes.