The most recent booster shot provides a better immune response to the emerging COVID-19 variants BA.4 and BA.5, White House officials recommended Americans to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters once again on Friday.
“Recent data that have come out indicate that, in fact, if you are vaccinated and boosted, compared to an unvaccinated person, there is a 14 times lower risk of dying in the most recent BA.4-5 era, compared to unvaccinated, and at least a three times lower risk of testing positive, Dr. Anthony Fauci said on Tuesday as he bid farewell to reporters at the White House press briefing podium.
Next month, the doctor-scientist will leave his roles as president Joe Biden’s chief medical advisor and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Fauci has stated categorically that he is not retiring but rather pursuing “the next chapter” of his professional life. He has served the federal government for more than 50 years, during which time he has led the fights against COVID-19, Ebola, and other health disasters as well as HIV and AIDS.
Ashish Jha, MD, the White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator, joined Fauci at the platform and discussed the most recent advancements in COVID-19 immunizations and disease prevention.
The best way to save lives this holiday season, especially the lives of older Americans, is to get your updated COVID-19 vaccine and annual flu shot, according to a statement released on Monday by 12 of America’s leading clinical and medical societies, including the American Medical Association and the American College of Physicians.
A “6-week push” to provide Americans their updated COVID shot by the end of December was among the other announcements. To help with vaccination education and distribution, 350 million dollars will be allocated to community health centres, mobile vaccine clinics, and religious organisations. Additionally, $125 million would be allocated to networks for the elderly and disabled in order to increase vaccination rates among Americans who are vulnerable and who have disabilities.
Jha added that, like the flu vaccine, the majority of Americans would require one vaccination annually to stay safe.
During the Thanksgiving meal and in the days and weeks that follow, he said, “We need to make protecting our loved ones a significant part of the dialogue we share.”
“We can practically stop every COVID death in America if people get their updated immunizations and are treated if they get a breakthrough illness.”
