It might seem like the COVID-19 pandemic is fading into the past, but U.S. health officials said this week that seniors should get a new booster shot to remain protected from the virus.
“CDC Director Mandy Cohen endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation for adults ages 65 years and older to receive an additional updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine dose,” said a media statement issued Wednesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to the CDC, metrics for COVID were down as of the week ending Feb. 24. These metrics are: test positivity, emergency department visits, hospitalizations and deaths. Still, around 2% of all deaths in the U.S. were attributable to the virus per the most recent statistics.
“Data continues to show the importance of vaccination to protect those most at risk for severe outcomes of COVID-19. An additional dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine may restore protection that has waned since a fall vaccine dose, providing increased protection to adults ages 65 years and older,” the CDC said.
Previous recommendations from the CDC covered immunocompromised people for follow-up vaccine doses. In the recommendations this week, the centers acknowledged there is also increased risk of severe disease from COVID-19 in older adults. More than half of COVID-19 hospitalizations during October 2023 to December 2023 were of people age 65 and older.
“Today’s recommendation allows older adults to receive an additional dose of this season’s COVID-19 vaccine to provide added protection,” said Mandy Cohen, M.D., M.P.H. “Most COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations last year were among people 65 years and older. An additional vaccine dose can provide added protection that may have decreased over time for those at highest risk.”
Information about COVID-19 vaccines available in the U.S. can be found here.