Photo by Maksim Goncharenok on Pexels
Written by Tanya Terry
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website and New York Times COVID Data Tracker
This week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended allowing an additional updated boosters for those who are immunocompromised, as well as seniors aged 65 and up.
The CDC is also recommending individuals who haven’t received a COVID-19 booster since September, or who are unvaccinated, get the updated vaccination now.
1,327 individuals in the United States died of COVID-19, between April 6-12. Ninety of those deaths occurred in Michigan, making our state the state with the second-highest number of COVID-19 deaths after only California for the week.
To be considered up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations, those getting vaccinated for the first time need only one shot of the updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna doses now. The original two-dose monovalent regimens are being considered outdated. In fact, Monovalent (original) mRNA COVID-19 vaccines will no longer be recommended for use in the United States.
The CDC says it has taken steps to simplify COVID-19 vaccine recommendations and allow more flexibility for people at higher risk who want the option of added protection from additional COVID-19 vaccine doses through its April 19 action.
According to a CDC press release, the CDC and CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will continue to monitor COVID-19 disease levels and vaccine effectiveness in the months ahead and look forward to additional discussion around potential updates this fall.
