CDC urges new COVID-19 booster as hospitalizations increase

Sheyanne N Romero, Salinas Californian
Updated ·4 min read
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Mandy Cohen is urging Americans to get updated COVID-19 shots, which will be widely available in the coming weeks.

"Ultimately, we know that vaccines save money and lives," Cohen said. "Vaccination is especially important as we head into fall and winter when COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases are likely to circulate.”

The latest updated COVID-19 boosters are expected to become available in the second week of September and are tailored to the current dominant strain of the virus. Cohen said she anticipates the next booster shot to be an annual shot.

Vaccines are still the best protection against hospitalization and death. Although many people have developed some immunity to the virus, that immunity will weaken over time, Cohen warned.

"We know that the COVID-19 virus continues to change," she said. "Just in the last couple of weeks, we've seen a new lineage of the Covid virus called BA.2.86."

The release of the updated booster comes on the heels of an uptick in cases across the U.S.

COVID-19 hospitalizations have increased over the past few weeks, reaching 15,067 for the week ending Aug. 19, according to CDC data. In Monterey County, the COVID-19 hospital admission level is currently classified as "low." In the last week, the number of confirmed COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the county was up 7.6%, according to the same data.

However, hospitalizations are lower than they were this time last year. In August 2022, the U.S. averaged over 84,000 hospitalizations per week, according to CDC data.

Can I get my flu vaccine and booster at the same time?

Vaccines for the three major respiratory viruses are influenza, COVID-19, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).

It's best practice to get the flu shot at the same time as the new COVID-19 booster, Cohen said. People over 60 should consult their doctor on when to get the RSV vaccine.

Annual flu and COVID-19 vaccinations are recommended for everyone 6 months and older. September and October are the best times for most people to get vaccinated, according to the CDC.

Reducing the overall burden of respiratory illnesses is important to protect people at risk for severe illness, the healthcare system, and other critical infrastructure, CDC officials stated.

"We have more tools than ever before," Cohen said. "The important part is that we use these tools."

Vaccines are especially important for:

  • Essential workers: Including staff in post-acute and long-term care facilities, as well as pharmacy staff and other critical infrastructure workforce

  • People at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19, Including adults aged 65 years and older, residents in post-acute and long-term care facilities, and persons of all ages with certain underlying medical conditions.

  • People at high risk for flu complications: Including infants aged 6 months and older and young children less than 5 years of age, children with neurologic conditions, pregnant people, adults aged 65 years and older, and other persons with certain underlying medical conditions.

Estimates show that last season, people who were vaccinated against flu were about 40% to 70% less likely to be hospitalized because of flu illness or related complications, according to the CDC.

Will the uninsured have access to the COVID-19 booster?

COVID-19 vaccines will transition to the commercial market for procurement, distribution, and pricing, later this fall. Which means that the roughly 30 million adults without insurance in the U.S. might not be able to afford the vaccine.

The CDC recently launched the Bridge Access Program for COVID-19 Vaccines to fill that gap. For a "limited time," adults who are uninsured or underinsured can still receive free COVID-19 vaccinations through the program.

“Protecting people from COVID-19 remains a top priority for CDC,” Cohen said in July. “CDC is partnering with state and local public health agencies, health centers, and pharmacies to ensure that all adults nationwide maintain access to lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines.

CDC will buy vaccines and allocate them, along with the funding needed to implement this new program, through the agency's network of state and local immunization programs.

These partners will then distribute vaccines to community-based providers, including local health departments and health centers. CDC is also working with a few pharmacy chains, as well as vaccine manufacturers, to provide uninsured people with the vaccine.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Here are the vaccines you should get in fall, winter 2023