Living beyond Covid, while Covid is still here

The newest version of the COVID-19 immunization will be ready for the general public in about a week. This is information we need to know.

- Thera Martin

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director signed off on the recommendation that all Americans aged six months and older receive the updated Covid booster because the number of documented Covid cases and hospitalizations are going up around the county. This comes a day after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized and approved the new shot. The boosters made by Pfizer -Bio-NTech and Moderna were created to target variants that are currently in the air, which are related to XBB, an offshoot of the Omicron variant. The advisory panel made the recommendation--which was then approved by Director Mandy Cohen.

“Vaccinations remain critical to public health and continued protection against serious consequences of COVID-19 including hospitalization and death,” Dr. Peter Marks, Director of the FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. The new booster shots should be available in about a week or so. They will be delivered to pharmacies and healthcare provider locations around the nation.

President Biden is encouraging all Americans to stay up to date with vaccinations. That means once the new immunization shot is ready about seven days from now, get ready to stick out your arm and get an updated booster.