The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends people who are immunocompromised and over the age of 50 get a . This comes as a new omicron variant, BA.2, has become the .
Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, , said this is a proactive move.
鈥淭he booster specifically with omicron was incredibly important. It reminds me of a debate last fall, many scientists said there wasn鈥檛 enough evidence for boosters, but boy were we lucky when we had boosters before omicron arrived.鈥�
The CDC reported that people who had a booster were against hospitalization and death than those who were unvaccinated. People at risk for COVID-19 complications, including older adults and those with chronic health conditions, can now get a second booster four months after their first booster.
鈥淲e don't know what the future holds,鈥� Jetelina said. 鈥淚 think that we prepare for the worst, hope for the best, and we have to see where this goes.鈥�
Dr. Robert Gottlieb, who works on COVID-19 therapeutic treatments for , thinks protection against the virus will get more streamlined over time.
鈥淎t some point we鈥檒l be savvy enough to predict which are the major changes that can all be covered in a single vaccine, rather than having a potpourri of vaccines,鈥� he said.
Gottlieb also hopes other treatments, like oral antiviral therapies, will become more widespread and accessible.
鈥淚magine, a patient could fill a prescription and travel with it domestically or abroad, and if they were to test positive, they could start the medicine,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think that would be a great advance.鈥�
Both Gottlieb and Jetelina are also waiting to see what the CDC and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decide on vaccines for children under the age of 5 this spring and the potential for an updated COVID-19 vaccine targeting omicron.
Got a tip? Email Elena Rivera at erivera@kera.org. You can follow Elena on Twitter .
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