United States: New guidance on COVID shots has been released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It came as no surprise to those in the healthcare industry that it even suggested a second shot for those 65 and up or those younger, moderately or severely immunocompromised.
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The officials now suggest “flexibility for additional doses (i.e., three or more) for those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, in consultation with their healthcare provider,” Forbes reported.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices had considered an approach like that last summer.
Some people state that the perennial changes make more sense because a standard approach is easy for patients and providers to comprehend. Some called for a transition toward a risk-based approach.
The CDC still endorses the 2024-2025 COVID-19 one-dose regimen for individuals 5–64 years of age without immunocompromising conditions.
The changes had been called for rather strongly by the public, and for a suggestion that boosters should be given every six months instead of annually.
Many concerned stakeholders called on the government to approve a second jab for immunocompromised individuals two months after the first.
The last four and a half years have shown that COVID-19 is not a seasonal virus like the flu; waves of infection do occur all year round.
This is why it did not only cause confusion to many to only recommend a fall immunization once a year for the flu vaccine.
The first one is that the vaccines, if available, are not taken up to proper utilization, Forbes reported.
In total, only a meager 22.5 percent of the adult population and a mere 14.1 percent of children have been administered with 2023-2024. Only 8.5 percent of adults 65 years and older had taken two or more doses of the 2023-24 COVID-19 vaccine.