The leader of the White House COVID-19 task team suggested this week that anyone over 50, and especially those over 65, should get omicron booster doses right away.
“If you’re over 50, and definitely over 65, you need to get these vaccinations because they genuinely could save your life,” the doctor advised. It makes the difference between life and death, according to Dr. Ashish Jha.
The CDC estimates that 330 persons die from COVID on average every day. According to Jha, the average age of those who pass away from it is 75 or older.
People who died from COVID-19, according to him, either didn’t get their vaccinations up to date or didn’t get antiviral therapies after developing breakthrough infections.
“Your chance of dying from Covid is now close to zero if you are up to date with your vaccinations and if you get treated if you have a breakthrough infection,” Jha told reporters at the White House last week.
Jha recommended everyone to get their immunizations and booster shots by Halloween in order to be well-prepared for the start of the American holiday season with Thanksgiving. Over the holidays and winter, there may be an increase in illnesses as a result of more people spending time together indoors.
According to health experts, the new boosters are made to guard against the dominant omicron BA.5 subvariant as well as the 2019 Chinese strain of COVID-19.
He argued that even if younger people had a lesser probability of developing a major COVID illness, they should still receive the doses. Last Thursday, the CDC and FDA approved omicron vaccinations for children aged 5 and older.
