Health authorities are gearing up for a vaccination campaign this fall due to a surge in new coronavirus cases in some parts of the country.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new vaccination recommendations for all Americans, emphasizing the importance of getting vaccinated to protect against respiratory illness.
While the need for vaccination is not as urgent as before, new variants of the coronavirus are still emerging, and hundreds of deaths and hospitalizations are reported each week.
A recent increase in emergency department visits related to COVID-19 has raised concerns among health officials. Experts are unsure if this is a sign of a summer pandemic or a temporary phenomenon.
Infectious disease experts at a CDC meeting voted to recommend the latest COVID vaccinations for all Americans aged 6 months and older. Health officials are preparing for annual updates to the COVID-19 vaccine, similar to the flu shot.
Surveys have shown that a decreasing number of Americans believe the virus is a major threat, leading to a decline in vaccination rates. The CDC released survey data showing that a significant portion of respondents are hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine update this fall.
The CDC’s Bridge Access Program, which covered vaccination costs for uninsured adults, will end in August due to funding cuts. As of now, about 1.2 million coronavirus-related deaths have been reported in the U.S. since 2020.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
