Both the FDA and CDC recently announced the authorization of a second booster shot for all adults 50 and older and people 12 and up who are severely immunocompromised. With the way the pandemic has been trending following the surge of the Omicron variant in winter, it can be hard to understand why a second booster would be necessary. While the status of the pandemic has been steadily improving there are still some lingering issues that are important to understand to preserve your health and the health of others. This guide will detail potentially why the FDA and CDC made this decision and who should be getting a second booster.
The decision to authorize a second booster shot for select members of the population may come as a surprise given the current state of the pandemic, but the FDA and CDC are warranted in their decision. Although they haven’t reached the highs of the recent Omicron spike that happened last winter, infections and deaths from COVID have been gradually trending upward in a number of regions across the US as of late. Two new variants, BA.2.12 and BA.2.12.1 (similar to the BA.2 variant) have emerged as the predominant strains in central NY where cases have been especially high. BA.2.12.1 has been particularly prevalent due in large part to its mutation that allows it to more easily evade the immune system. New England and Washington D.C. have had some mild increases and many countries outside of the U.S. have seen strong swells in cases even prior to BA.2.12 and BA.2.12.1’s rapid spread. The new more transmissible strains in conjunction with the steady growth in cases abroad likely led to the World Health Organization and President Biden insisting recently that COVID is still very much a public health emergency.
Vaccines have been especially effective at preventing severe cases of COVID and hospitalization, but for those that are unvaccinated or immunocompromised, COVID is still deadly. In authorizing a second booster, the CDC and FDA are trying to protect those most vulnerable parts of our population. Although some medical experts disagree, some research has suggested that the second booster dosage would be beneficial for people aged 65 and older or those with an underlying condition. If you fall under the parameters of the FDA and CDC’s authorization, the second booster dose would potentially be beneficial for you. Additionally, some experts have indicated that people who have been infected with COVID within the last 3 months have similar protection to a second booster and may not need to get a second booster just yet. Ultimately, Kokomo24/7 strongly suggests you consult your doctor before making a decision regarding a second booster shot.
Kokomo24/7 offers solutions that can help you ensure a safe workplace environment for more vulnerable populations. Manage and monitor vaccine records, testing results, contact tracing, and case management all from one convenient and easy-to-use platform. Feel secure knowing you can handle whatever COVID throws your way. Stay ahead of COVID with Kokomo24/7.
Sources:
CASES™
ESCALATE™
TRIAGE™
NOTIFY™
FORMS™
DASHBOARD™
HOST™
OWLPASS®
ACCESS™
WELLNESS™
CREDENTIALS™
