Updated COVID-19 vaccines available for Hoosiers

Indianapolis, Indiana – The updated COVID-19 vaccination is now accessible. As the weather becomes cooler, experts advise people to obtain their vaccinations.

Tuesday, the Daybreak crew was joined by Dr. Scott Stienecker, epidemiology and infectious disease specialist at Parkview Health in Fort Wayne, to discuss how the newer vaccines vary from the earlier ones.

“These vaccines are made using an mRNA technology which allows us to basically take a piece of protein that we want to copy and then make a vaccine out of that specific protein. In this case, it’s the outer capsule of the COVID virus, that spike protein, that allows us to make antibodies that will attack and attach to that,” Stienecker said.

Anyone over 18 who has completed their primary series of vaccinations and is eligible for their booster shot and has had at least two months to recover is eligible for the Moderna vaccine. Anyone over the age of 12 who has completed their primary set of vaccinations and is prepared for a booster shot is eligible for the Pfizer vaccine.

People who recently had COVID-19, according to Steinecker, should still get vaccinated.

“I would absolutely recommend everybody get vaccinated before Christmas, before the holidays, because I think that we’re going to start to see a significant surge again,” Stienecker said.

Steinecker also advises being vaccinated against the flu.