Biden gets updated COVID booster and encourages Americans to do the same
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WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden got his updated COVID-19 booster shot on Tuesday and urged other Americans to do the same heading into the holiday season.
"If you get it, you're protected," he said. "And if you don't, you're putting yourself and other people unnecessarily at risk."
More than 20 million Americans, including nearly one in five seniors, already have gotten the updated vaccine since it became available in September. But Biden said not enough people are getting the free shot.
"We've got to change that so we can all have a safe and healthy holiday season," he said.
The updated boosters target the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of omicron, the versions of the virus that are most dominant in the U.S. and around the world. Public health officials say people who get the updated vaccine are less likely to get seriously ill or die if they become infected with the virus.
Surrounded by his COVID advisers and pharmacy representatives, Biden announced a series of measures the government will take to encourage more Americans to get the booster, such as hosting vaccination events and working with national and community-based groups on family outreach programs.
Biden also called on pharmacies to make it easier for Americans to get the booster by extending their hours and working with employers, schools, nursing homes and other groups where people meet.
The updated boosters became available in September, but Biden had to wait to get his because he tested positive for the virus in July.
More: Which COVID-19 bivalent booster should I get, and when? What you need to know.
More: Pfizer-BioNTech asks FDA to authorize new omicron-targeting COVID booster for children 5 to 11
Public health officials are warning of a possible surge in COVID cases
Researchers at the University of Washington’s Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation estimate more than 300,000 deaths from COVID-19 could occur this fall and winter, including deaths that may go unreported, totaling more than 1.3 million deaths by February.
The institute estimates only about 20,000 of those deaths may officially be tallied, which is well below the approximately 150,000 deaths that were reported in between October 2021 and February 2022, according to IHME data.
However, first doses of the COVID-19 booster were not available to the majority of Americans until late last year, when the omicron variant first reared its ugly head and caused a devastating surge in early 2022.
Health experts continue to monitor emerging omicron subvariants, like B.Q.1.1 and BA.4.6, that have the potential to cause more coronavirus cases this year. For now, they don't foresee any of the new variants causing a surge akin to that of omicron and say the new bivalent booster should provide some protection against the newest strains.
Dr. Cameron Webb, a senior policy advisor for the White House COVID-19 Response Team, predicted more Americans will get the updated vaccine. A lot of people aren't aware that the vaccines are available, he said
"Every bit of data we have tells us that people are going to continue to get these new updated vaccines," Webb said. "There's still a lot of folks for us to reach and engage."
More: Move aside, BA.5: These new COVID variants are gaining ground in the US
More: There are new omicron variants—here's what you need to stay safe
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: COVID-19: Biden gets updated booster ahead of possible winter surge
