Less than 8% of Utahns are considered modern. Covid-19 vaccinesAccording to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.
But health experts say it’s not too late for adults Children up to 5 years old Wrapping Hands to Protect Against Covid-19 for Thanksgiving and Other Holiday Celebrations This Winter The latest boostThe first is aimed at the current circulation Versions of the virus.
“Scientifically, I think now is the right time to get it,” said Rich Lakin, director of vaccines for the state Department of Health and Human Services. It may take two to three weeks Disease prevention To build, he said, the improved level of reinforcement now means greater protection once the holiday arrives.
Even before families sit down together for a Thanksgiving meal, Lakin may have been subjected to extra food, he said Vulnerability For the virus, because “we all know people shop before Thanksgiving. They are getting closer. It will be colder.”
Covid-19 cases Last week, the seven-day average number of cases rose 14 percent, to 346. The seven-day average for new hospital admissions for the virus, too, rose below that. 16 to 18 per day, just over a 13% increase.
The state Department of Health and Human Services also reported nine more Utahns have died from COVID-19 since last posted. coronavirus.utah.gov A week ago, bringing The number of people who die from the virus 5,065 in Utah.
Increase immunity It should stay Not only Christmas and New Year, but all winter. It’s from what’s known as a bivalent booster shot because it continues to target the original strain of Covid-19 in addition to the original copies, he said. Omicron variant in BA.4 and BA.5 They are responsible for most of the issues in the US
Updated booster shots for adults and children under 5 years of age have been approved by the federal government two months or more after receiving the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. At least 6 months.
People are considered up-to-date on their vaccinations if they are 5 or older and receive the update incentive, or if they are younger than 5 and have completed their first vaccination series. At the national level Centers for Disease Control and Prevention It said 7.3 percent of Americans age 5 or older have received a booster shot.
Low stimulant intake ‘worrying’ for FDA official
Hilary Marston, chief medical officer of the US Food and Drug Administration, expressed concern in an interview. Scientific American Posted this week is the low reception for the updated booster shots from early September.
“Would I like to see the numbers higher? Absolutely. And I think for any health care worker and anyone who follows this epidemic closely. As a health care worker, a child, I feel for the people on the front lines in the emergency room,” Marston said.
Those health workers are “of course there to take care of you if you’re sick, but it’s such a stress,” she said. “And it’s very disappointing, because we have the tools, we have more than we expected at the beginning of this epidemic. And it’s really annoying to see the hype. Do not enter the armsHe said.
Marston called the improved vaccines “the single best thing you can do to protect yourself from this virus” and urged everyone who is eligible to get them. “There are a huge number of people who are not vaccinated or immunized,” she said, who are hospitalized or die from Covid-19.
But he hoped so Utah’s interest in incentives It will start to rise soon.
“It’s low everywhere. I think people have vaccine fatigue now. As we move into failure, we are asking them to find a. Flu vaccine. We are asking them to give us another, binary incentive. There was a lot of encouragement,” he said. “We’ll just have to be patient, and as we get closer to winter, I think we’ll start to see an increase.”
Why Utah’s state immunization director had to wait for his booster shot
The state Department of Health and Human Services’ director of immunizations is waiting to receive a modified version of the Covid-19 booster vaccine because of the symptoms. Discovery issue Including the loss of taste and smell of the virus in summer.
It is recommended for people who have experienced covid-19 Wait three months Before they take the booster, because they have some natural immunity after the disease. Lakin said he plans to have both an updated Covid-19 stimulus package and an annual one. Flu vaccine this week.
“You know, the virus can do that to you,” he said, describing himself as lucky because it didn’t damage his lungs or other organs. But Lakin said he expects to live with long-term COVID-19 with its “stunning” effects for a year or more because so little is known about treatment.
Still for those Asking for importance His motivational message for the updated Covid-19 was clear.
“The risk of the vaccine is very small compared to the virus itself. And if you’re going to be one of those individuals who have serious complications, you won’t know you have COVID-19,” Lakin said of the vaccine. Saving millions of lives.
“I think people need to remember this The epidemic is not over.. It will continue for some time,” he warned. “It’s the best thing to do. Protect yourselfAnd you can do this with the vaccine.