As you remember, the omicron variant emerged last year, taking everyone by surprise and overwhelming the medical system, leading to many more COVID-19 deaths than expected.
And now, scientists are pointing out that this highly contagious variant is currently mutating to evade our immune system a lot better than ever before.
With that being said, back in August, the FDA and U.S. health officials decided to authorize and recommend omicron-specific vaccines to everyone of age 5 and over!
Despite this, only half of all American adults are even aware of these omicron booster shots that are so important to individual and collective health, as per a KFF poll.
Meanwhile only a third declared that they’ve either gotten the booster or are planning to in the near future.
Since the number of cases spiked in the U.S. between the months of November and February in both 2020 and 2021, will this year be any different?
The answer to this common question is not clear at this point but that being said, here are some things you need to know if you wish to be prepared for anything this cold season!
Do You Need Another Booster Shot this Fall?
If your immune system is compromised or you’re over the age of 50 and have already received the primary vaccination series, the answer is yes.
After all, 40 percent of all deaths happen to people over the age of 85 while 90 percent of them happen to those over the age of 65.
As for hospitalization, they seem to include people of all ages but the numbers still show a preponderance among the elderly.
On the other hand, if you are between the ages of 12 and 49 and have already received 3 or more shots, another booster is unlikely to add any extra protection unless you’re immunocompromised.
Regardless, any booster shot means you’re less likely to get infected and therefore transmit the virus for a couple of months so if you are planning to see older or immunocompromised relatives over the holidays, it’s still a good idea to get another shot 2 to 4 weeks in advance to better protect them.
Will Any More COVID Variants Emerge?
As you may be aware, the omicron variant has come with its own set of subvariants, including the BA.5 that emerged earlier this year and is still the dominant form of the virus in the United States.
But the BA.4.6 omicron subvariant is thought to take its place soon as it currently accounts for 14 percent of all cases and is on the rise and is better at evading the immune system’s defenses.