Last week, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new vaccine for the 2024-2025 season in an effort to help curb the recent spike in COVID cases. Thanks in large part to new strains that healthcare professionals in Ohio say are in the same family as the Omicron Variant.

Some locations throughout the Buckeye State, including here in the Valley, already have the vaccine, and in late September, you will be able to get vaccinated at just about any local pharmacy, drugstore, or doctor's office. You'll also be able to order up to four free COVID test kits per household.

Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, the Ohio Department of Health's director, said in a press conference Thursday that in the last week, they've seen about 8,000 cases. However, case levels haven't surpassed numbers from the past winter. Ohio had 18,883 cases reported in July, less than the more than 41,000 cases in January and 500,000 cases in January 2022. 

The dominant variants currently are LP1, KP2, and KP3.

"This continues a trend of variants that are evolving to become more transmissible, but are not creating a greater severity of disease," said Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, adding that because the virus is more transmissible, it needs to be taken seriously.

"Even if you have mild symptoms of COVID, it can certainly disrupt your life, and hopefully, you'll be conscious to stay away from others while you are sick.", Dr. Vanderhoff added. He says they're seeing 200 hospitalizations and 17 deaths each week.

The new vaccine was formulated with the more recent variants in mind. The CDC recommends that anyone six months or older who has been previously vaccinated receive one dose of the vaccine. However, the CDC does not recommend that those over 65 get a second dose unless they are immunocompromised.

Availability of the vaccine will increase going into September, and the Ohio Department of Health asks that you check with the location for availability before getting the vaccine. The vaccines.gov locator tool will be available where you can find a list of locations that offer it.

While COVID tests are still sold in stores and free to those on Medicaid, the government will once again provide up to four free test kits per household, beginning by the end of September.  

With flu season looming, Dr. Vanderhoff and other healthcare professionals encourage folks to double up on the COVID and flu vaccinations, both of which you'll be able to get at the same time starting next month. RSV immunizations are being recommended as well.