"Latest COVID Vaccine Updates: Guidance, Boosters, Strains, and Houston Cases"

The new FDA-approved COVID vaccine is now available at local pharmacies, but doctors say the approach to who needs to get it is more nuanced this time. Immunity has changed over time, especially for those who have already had COVID, and the vaccine has also evolved to target the most recent strain. Factors such as previous boosters, recent infections, and underlying health conditions should be considered when deciding whether to get vaccinated. False negative home tests and the use of traditional supplements like echinacea and elderberry are cautioned against. Zinc, higher doses of vitamin D, astragalus, and quercetin are recommended instead. The updated COVID vaccine should be free for most patients this year, and getting a flu shot simultaneously is possible. Long-COVID symptoms remain unpredictable.