Coronavirus is on the rise in the U.S., prompting questions about when Americans can roll up their sleeves for the next COVID-19 vaccine.
COVID-19 hospitalizations have been increasing for six straight weeks. While levels remain far below previous coronavirus waves in the U.S., it’s still the first increase since winter, and it has even prompted the return of mask mandates for a handful of businesses and schools.
The Biden administration estimates that 97% of Americans ages 16 and over have some level of COVID-19 immunity through vaccination, previous infection or both. The number may sound promising – so why do people need another round of shots? Because that protection can fade in a matter of months, leaving individuals vulnerable to COVID-19 once again.
“Immunity is stronger today than at any other point in the outbreak,” Mandy Cohen, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a recent video statement. “That means we're moving towards COVID-19 being a more manageable illness with less severe illness. Having antibodies is like a shield, but we still need to be cautious because that protection does decrease over time.”
When Will the Shots Be Available?
Rollout of the shots is expected in mid-September, according to officials with the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration.
The shots from Moderna, Pfizer and Novavax first need authorization from the FDA. After that, the CDC’s committee of outside vaccine experts will gather to recommend who should be eligible for the shots. That meeting is scheduled for Sept. 12. Then, the CDC director must sign off on the recommendations before shots can be administered.
For undervaccinated or unvaccinated Americans – especially those who are at high risk for severe disease – Cohen says it might be best for them to roll up their sleeves now for the shots that are currently available.
“Those who have never been vaccinated and then some people who are older and at higher risk for a COVID infection might be best to get the existing COVID shot now and not wait,” Cohen said, noting that individuals should talk to their doctor first.
But Cohen added that “if you do get the current COVID-19 vaccine now or in early September, it could delay your ability to get this updated vaccine that's coming out in the middle of September.”
Will the Updated Boosters Work on New Coronavirus Variants?
The updated shots target XBB.1.5, which was responsible for less than 5% of new coronavirus infections in recent weeks.
The variant scene has changed significantly since the Biden administration advised vaccine makers to target the XBB strain in June. Now, EG.5, or “eris,” is the dominant strain circulating, causing over 20% of new cases.
But all the strains circulating are still descendants of omicron, so experts believe the shots will still protect against severe COVID-19 from the variants.
A Biden administration official told reporters last week, “FDA expects that once available, the updated vaccines will similarly provide protection against the most serious outcomes of the disease that may result from currently circulating variants.”
Additionally, experts are keeping a close eye on how BA.2.86, a new strain that is highly mutated, could affect the shots.
“The CDC is closely tracking a new variant which does have a number of changes or mutations that do make it distinct and different from the older versions of the virus,” Cohen said. “So we're working as fast as we can to understand this new variant and what impact it might have on how severe the COVID disease will get or how well our vaccines work against it.”
Will the New COVID-19 Shot Be Free?
Most Americans will receive the shot cost-free through their insurance. For uninsured Americans, the Biden administration is working on a program that will offer free shots at pharmacies. That program might not be available on the same day the shots are authorized but is expected to be up and running within a couple of weeks of the date.
Uninsured Americans will have immediate access to the shots for free at community health centers and individual providers as soon as they roll out.
How Many People Will Get a Booster Shot?
Historically, vaccine uptake decreases each time a new coronavirus shot is offered.
Just 17% of Americans as of May rolled up their sleeves for the latest round of shots offered. That’s a steep drop from the first shot, which saw 81% of the population roll up their sleeves.
But there are reasons to be hopeful that uptake of the shots could be higher this time around. A survey from KFF found that more than half of adults said they are likely to get another COVID-19 booster shot if it’s offered annually like the flu shot.
C | 面对与中国香港队的比赛，扬科维奇赛前明确告诉队员：必须忘记先前与日本队的比赛，中国队此役依然是“成败一线间”，即中国队参加东亚杯的目标是拿到4分，但战平日本队只获得1分，所以最后一场比赛必须取胜。扬科维奇还提醒队员：前两场比赛打完后，中国队尚未取得1粒进球。因此要想达成目标，对阵中国香港队，中国队必须实现进球，拿到3分。这场比赛的准备时间只有48个小时，对于年轻的国足选拔队球员来说，这无疑是个严峻的考验。胜利就是最好的回报与中国香港队的比赛开始之后，国足选拔队的球员开局阶段表现不错，依然能够实施高压，且掌控着场上主动。不过，或许是7天内连续第3场比赛的缘故，国足选拔队在本届赛事中又没有进行大轮换，所以体能不足的问题逐渐暴露，这也让中国香港队开始逐渐找到节奏，并不断在中国队门前创造机会。不过，就像中国香港队主教练安德森赛后所言：“我们创造出了不少机会，但并没有把握住。足球比赛就是这样，你不进球，就无法取得胜利。”相反，中国选拔队年轻球员在体能透支的情况下，依然拼尽全力。下半时第67分钟，陈国抗执行赛前拟定的施压战术，上前逼抢拿球的中国香港队后卫，导致对方后卫解围失误，球直接弹到谭龙脚下，后者抓住机会取得进球。
D | 这个进球是中国队年轻队员拼出来的结果，当陈国抗、朱辰杰等球员同时抽筋倒地时，球迷可以看出这些年轻队员的拼劲，而胜利就是最好的回报。正如主教练扬科维奇赛后所说，“我对球队在这场比赛中的整体表现并不满意，因为没有踢出我们想要的足球，而且，这场比赛也暴露出体能方面的问题，但从积极的角度来说，我又是满意的，因为这是我们3年来第一次参加东亚杯赛这样的正式比赛，能够与日韩这样的强队交锋，这种经历是年轻球员所缺乏的，比赛中暴露出来的问题才能更好地解决。队伍的目标是杭州亚运会，但亚运会上，球队将在短时间内完成6场比赛，体能储备如何更进一步提高？这（今天的比赛）显然给我们上了一课！”阶段性“小考”已经及格通过东亚杯，扬科维奇和年轻中国男足选拔队已经通过阶段性“小考”，至少已经及格。重要的是，年轻球员通过比赛极大提升信心与士气——这些只有通过高水平正式比赛、通过胜利去逐渐积累。至于中国男足接下来的计划，有待回国之后与中国足协进一步协商才能敲定。
E | 根据现有的计划，完成了东亚杯后的中国男足将不再有赛事任务，需要全力以赴完成今年的中超联赛，恢复主客场制将是足协工作的重点。至于扬科维奇是否会接任国家队，至少目前为止，李霄鹏依然是国家队主教练。
F |
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