Medical expert think annual COVID vaccine a real possibility

HIXSON, Tennessee- People may need to get vaccinated against COVID-19 annually according to Medical Experts.

Pharmacist Jacob Standefer with Access Family Pharmacy said Coronavirus has shown as the virus spreads, it also can mutate.

He said in the future, an annual vaccine looks more and more likely.

“We’ve had some more strains that have popped up in the UK and Latin America as well as South Africa. As this virus continues to mutate then we’re going to have to alter our vaccines to be able to be affective against it,” said Standefer.

Annual vaccines are nothing new as the flu vaccine is a shot people need to get every year.

“It would be very similar to the flu vaccine. They’ll identify the different mutations of the virus has gone through and they will specifically target their vaccines to be able to attack that viral strain,” said Standefer.

Standefer said it appears as if the Pfizer and Maderna vaccines are performing well gain at the variants.

“These articles haven’t been peer reviewed yet, the studies haven’t, but so far it’s promising on the other hand, we have seen some other vaccines like Astrazeneca vaccine, that is less effective in South Africa variant and the UK,” said Standefer.

He said another factor is based around the amount of supply in the future.

“I can definitely see it being more for high-risk people especially if vaccine supply continues to be an issue. Hopefully, in the future, will have enough vaccine to go around to anybody who’s willing to get the shot. (They) will have the opportunity to do so, to get some protection,” said Standefer.