NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Despite COVID-19’s continued prevalence in the country and a pattern of resurgence of cases in the winter season, just 3.5 percent of Long Island residents has received the latest booster shot, according to a Newsday analysis.
The low numbers are reflective of those who have gotten their booster dose after completing their primary COVID-19 vaccine series by the end of September.
“I think there's many reasons people haven't gotten vaccinated yet,” Stony Brook Medicine’s Dr. Andrew Handel told WCBS 880. “First is I'm not sure everyone was really aware that there's a new booster available. And that it is thought to be more effective than the prior one.”
Along with a lack of knowledge, Handel adds that many people just don’t seem to think boosters are needed.
“We've gone back to a pre pandemic normalcy in many ways and many people feel like another COVID Booster just isn't necessary right now,” Handel said.
Handel explained that those who are considered high risk should absolutely get boosted, especially as the winter months begin.
“Patients with those health problems that we've discussed many times in the past: obesity and diabetes and older age and people who are immunocompromised, these vaccines are shown to be more effective in terms of the body's response to them than the prior vaccines and they're very safe,” Handel said. “So I think that there's many reasons to go ahead with with getting a booster.”
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