Many cities and states in the United States are opting to reopen massive vaccination centers against COVID-19 that had closed in recent months due to the explosion of cases unleashed by the omicron variant, it was reported this Saturday (01.08.2022).
Stadiums, shopping centers and other large areas used at the beginning of the immunization campaign are now being used again to administer vaccines, both first doses and booster doses, in an attempt to improve the protection of the population against the rapid advance of omicron.
A majority of states in the northeast of the country, where the variant has attacked more strongly so far, but also others such as Oregon and Illinois have already reopened or plan to reopen large vaccination centers, capable of serving thousands of people a day.
Massachusetts, for example, on Thursday began vaccinating again at Boston’s popular Fenway Park ballpark.
New push for immunizations
In recent months, the bulk of vaccination in the United States had passed to pharmacies and medical clinics, but authorities are now seeking to give a new push to immunizations, especially by vaccinating children and administering booster doses to adults.
It is also expected to convince some of the people who so far have avoided getting vaccinated, according to officials quoted today by The Wall Street Journal and to ease the burden on many pharmacies due to the new wave of infections.
Slightly more than 66% of Americans over the age of 5, those who can be vaccinated, have completed the initial regimen, according to official data, while around 38% of vaccinated adults have received the booster dose.
Cases on the rise
COVID-19 cases have recently skyrocketed in the United States due to the omicron variant, which already represents 95% of infections in the country.
This Friday, the country – which is the one that accumulates the most cases in the world – registered more than 900,000 new infections and some 2,000 deaths.
In New York City alone, hospitalizations for covid in those under 18 years of age multiplied by 17, more than double the growth rate of the population as a whole, reported NBC New York.
Hospital concern has taken on new prominence in upstate New York, with the state announcing on Saturday the suspension of elective surgeries at 40 hospitals.
The vast majority of affected hospitals are in the Mohawk Valley, Finger Lakes and Central New York regions, according to the state’s announcement. No New York City hospitals have been added to the list, the station added.
jc (efe, NBC New York, NBC Boston, The Wall Street Journal)
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