The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the Moderna and Pfizer/Biontech vaccines, which are expected to be available in pharmacies and clinics in the coming days.
There is no longer mass testing for COVID-19, so it is unclear how many active cases there are in the United States right now.
However, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that levels of the virus in wastewater are “very high” nationwide.
“The amount of virus you see there is skyrocketing,” adds Dr. Donald Dumford, infectious disease physician, Cleveland Clinic
Dr. Donald Dumford of the Cleveland Clinic says the best way to protect yourself from serious illness is to get vaccinated.
Here’s what you need to know about the updated COVID-19 vaccine.
First, the CDC recommends that everyone over the age of six months get it.
Dumford says the vaccine is especially important for people who are vulnerable due to reasons such as age or medical conditions.
Second, waning immunity and new variants are believed to be behind the recent surge in cases.
Third, experts believe this newer vaccine will protect you against the variants that are spreading now.
“If you have last year’s vaccine or if you had an infection last fall or winter, those antibodies will not protect against the strains we’re seeing circulating now. That’s why it’s important to get this updated vaccine,” adds Dr. Donald Dumford, infectious disease physician, Cleveland Clinic.
Fourth, Dumford says it is safe to get both the COVID-19 and flu vaccines at the same time.
Recommends receiving both before the end of October.
Finally, the updated COVID vaccine not only protects you from severe illness, but also your loved ones.
“It’s a good idea to get vaccinated to protect them and not just yourself,” adds Dr. Donald Dumford, infectious disease physician, Cleveland Clinic
The CDC reports that measures of severe illness from COVID-19 infections, including hospitalization and death rates, have increased but are not close to levels of previous years.
