Mass vaccinations are coming back to WeHo. Here’s what you need to know.

West Hollywood is looking to partner with Supervisor Lindsey Horvath’s office and the county health department to offer COVID-19 and flu vaccination clinics in the city.

At present, the health department oversees two vaccination sites that offer both vaccines, among other services. However, these sites, located at Obregon Park and Ted Watkins Memorial Park in Los Angeles, are over 10 miles from West Hollywood, posing a travel challenge for many residents.

The proposal seeks to establish two community clinics, one on the east side of the city and another on the west side.

City staff will be tasked with organizing and overseeing the community clinics. Security ambassadors will be present to assist with crowd management.

Council will review the proposal at their meeting Monday night, along with a separate proposal to initiate a public awareness campaign for the vaccines.

A LOOK AT THE ‘UPDATED’ VACCINES

In the middle of September, both the FDA and the CDC gave their approval for the revised vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. Following this, in the beginning of October, they also gave the green light for the revised Novavax vaccine to be administered to those aged 12 and above. 

These vaccines were designed to address XBB.1.5, a subtype of the Omicron variant that was predominant globally and in the U.S. from November 2021 until recently. The CDC has indicated that these new vaccine versions should be effective against the present SARS-CoV-2 virus variants. Many of these are derived from or have connections to the XBB strain, such as EG.5, which is currently the most widespread strain in the U.S., and BA.2.86, a fresh subtype that’s raising eyebrows due to its spike protein having over 30 mutations.

The dual-action booster introduced in 2022 aimed at the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants and the initial SARS-CoV-2 strain is now obsolete. In contrast, the current vaccine is singularly focused on the Omicron XBB.1.5 variant. By September, XBB.1.5 made up a mere 3% of U.S. cases. However, most current strains trace back to it or are closely linked.

This shift underscores the virus’s rapid evolution, making it challenging to align new vaccine versions with concurrently active variants. Exposure to a new variant derivative, when one has immunity to its predecessor, offers some level of protection.

The FDA has given the green light to Novavax’s modified vaccine targeting XBB.1.5. Those 12 and older, previously vaccinated and not given a recently modified mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, can get one dose. Those unvaccinated are entitled to two doses. The FDA emphasizes this adjusted vaccine tackles present variants to improve defenses against severe COVID-19 outcomes, such as hospitalization and death.

While Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines employ mRNA technology to prompt cells to produce proteins initiating an immune response to COVID-19, Novavax’s protein-centric vaccine uses a more conventional method. It directly introduces a lab-created spike protein and an additional component, generating antibodies and T cells to combat the virus. Novavax remains the sole non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine accessible in the U.S.

Anticipating the need for annual formula updates akin to the flu shot, the FDA labels these as “updated vaccines” instead of boosters. Boosters enhance immunity from prior vaccinations, whereas updated vaccines offer defenses against current variants. The FDA expects that, unless an extremely virulent variant emerges, annual COVID-19 vaccine modifications will be required, mirroring seasonal flu vaccine practices.

Regarding the EG.5 strain, which constituted 29.4% of cases by September’s end, surpassing other SARS-CoV-2 strains, and the subsequent XBB variant, FL 1.51, with 13.7% of cases, the XBB vaccine properties are genetically akin to EG.5. Though not exact matches, they’re similar, ensuring some protection from the updated vaccine.

The BA.2.86 variant, detected in the U.S. in August, isn’t widespread yet. Its multiple spike protein mutations might indicate higher transmissibility or severity, but this remains uncertain. Nevertheless, the CDC believes new vaccines should counter this strain.

A study referenced by the agency demonstrated that post-COVID-19 infection, males aged 12-17 had a 1.8–5.6 times elevated risk of heart complications, like myocarditis, compared to post-vaccination.

THE VARIANTS

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) established a SARS-CoV-2 Interagency Group (SIG) to enhance coordination among CDC, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), and Department of Defense (DoD). This interagency group characterizes emerging variants and monitors their potential impact on vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics.

The SIG uses four types of classifications:

• Variant of high consequence (VOHC)
• Variant of concern (VOC)
• Variant of interest (VOI)
• Variants being monitored (VBM)

* Many lineages have acquired the F456L mutation and common examples include EG.5, FL.1.5.1, and XBB.1.16.6.

** Omicron parent lineages include BA.1 or similar.