US Health Officials Urge Older Adults to Get Latest COVID-19 Vaccine
U.S. health officials are urging older adults to get an additional updated COVID-19 vaccine shot. The advice for Americans 65 and older was recently issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
CDC Director Mandy Cohen explained the new guidance in a statement. “Most COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations last year were among people 65 years and older. An additional vaccine dose can provide added protection … for those at highest risk.”
The CDC said an additional dose of the vaccine can provide increased protection, even if older adults received the updated shot version launched last autumn.
The new guidance suggests individuals who did receive the updated shot – which became available last September – should wait at least four months before getting the latest dose.
The CDC’s decision, or recommendation, came following much debate over whether to say older people “may” get the shots or “should” do so. That discussion demonstrates the ongoing debate among experts regarding how necessary additional COVID-19 shots are.
Some doctors have said they think most older adults are effectively protected following getting the shot last autumn. And studies have suggested the shots stay effective for six months.
But health officials have noted the body’s vaccine-activated defenses can decrease over time, especially in older people. The CDC had recommended additional COVID-19 shots, called boosters, for older adults in 2022 and 2023.
COVID-19 can still present serious health risks, especially to older people and those with existing medical conditions. The CDC says there are still more than 20,000 hospitalizations and more than 2,000 deaths each week from COVID-19. Individuals 65 years and older have the highest hospitalization and death rates.
Some members of the CDC group that approved the latest advice said the word “should” in the guidance is meant to persuade more doctors and drug stores to offer the shots.
“Most people are coming in either wanting the vaccine or not,” Dr. Jamie Loehr told The Associated Press. He is a member of the CDC’s deciding committee and a family doctor in Ithaca, New York. “I am trying to make it easier for providers to say, ‘Yes, we recommend this.’”
In September, the government ordered a new COVID-19 shot based on a version of the virus called XBB.1.5. That single-target vaccine replaced combinations that had targeted both the first COVID-19 version and a much earlier Omicron version.
The CDC recommended that vaccine version for everyone 6 months and older. It also urged people with weak immune systems to get a second shot up to two months following the first.
But most Americans did not listen to that advice. The latest CDC data shows that 13 percent of U.S. children got the shots, while 22 percent of U.S. adults did. The vaccination rate for adults 65 and older is higher, at nearly 42 percent.
“People are tired of getting all these shots all the time,” Dr. David Canaday told the AP. He is an infectious diseases expert at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.
Canaday, who does not serve on the CDC’s advisory group, added, “We have to be careful regarding over-recommending the vaccine.”
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, U.S. health officials are now urging older adults to receive an additional updated COVID-19 vaccine shot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued this advisory to Americans aged 65 and older. This guidance comes in response to the staggering number of COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations among this age group throughout the past year.
The additional dose of the vaccine is believed to offer increased protection, even if older adults have already received the updated shot version released in the autumn. According to the CDC, individuals who have received the previous version should wait at least four months before getting the latest dose. The decision to recommend this additional dose was not made lightly and reflects the ongoing debate among experts regarding the necessity of boosters for COVID-19.
While some doctors argue that older adults are sufficiently protected following receiving the previous shot last autumn, studies have shown that the vaccine’s effectiveness may diminish over time, particularly in older individuals. In response, the CDC had previously recommended additional COVID-19 shots, known as boosters, for older adults in 2022 and 2023.
The urgency to vaccinate older adults once morest COVID-19 stems from the serious health risks they face, especially those with existing medical conditions. The CDC reports that there are still over 20,000 weekly hospitalizations and more than 2,000 deaths from COVID-19, with the highest rates occurring among individuals aged 65 and older.
The use of the word “should” in the guidance is strategic, as some members of the CDC group believe it will encourage more doctors and drugstores to offer the shots. Dr. Jamie Loehr, a family doctor and member of the CDC’s deciding committee, explains that the goal is to make it easier for healthcare providers to recommend the additional dose to patients.
In September, the government authorized a new COVID-19 shot based on the XBB.1.5 variant of the virus. This single-target vaccine replaced previous combinations that targeted both the initial COVID-19 strain and the earlier Omicron variant. The CDC recommends this vaccine version for individuals aged 6 months and older, while also urging those with weakened immune systems to receive a second shot within two months of the first.
However, despite these recommendations, the vaccination rates among Americans remain relatively low. Recent data from the CDC shows that only 13 percent of U.S. children and 22 percent of U.S. adults have received the shots. The vaccination rate is slightly higher among individuals aged 65 and older, reaching nearly 42 percent.
This reluctance among some individuals to receive additional shots may stem from vaccine fatigue and varying perceptions of the necessity of boosters. Dr. David Canaday, an infectious diseases expert at Case Western Reserve University, warns once morest over-recommending the COVID-19 vaccine, acknowledging that people are becoming weary of multiple vaccinations.
Looking forward, the implications of the CDC’s advisory for additional COVID-19 shots suggest an ongoing need for vigilance in protecting vulnerable populations. As new variants emerge and the virus continues to spread, it is crucial for public health officials to closely monitor vaccine effectiveness and adjust vaccination strategies accordingly. While some individuals may express hesitation towards additional shots, the data highlights the importance of staying proactive in reducing hospitalizations and deaths caused by COVID-19.
The effectiveness and longevity of COVID-19 vaccines will remain at the forefront of scientific research and public health discussions in the coming years. It is essential for researchers to continue studying the impact of boosters on different age groups and immune responses. Policymakers and healthcare providers should consider tailoring vaccination campaigns to address concerns and boost confidence in the ongoing need for additional COVID-19 shots.
The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped many aspects of our lives, and the battle to control the virus is far from over. By remaining informed, following health guidelines, and actively participating in vaccination efforts, individuals can contribute to the collective effort to ensure a safer future.