For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO and CDC websites.
More than 100 million people in the US are eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster shot from Moderna of Pfizer, as the omicron variant continues to spread across the US (it's now been detected in at least 12 states, from Hawaii to New York). As a result, the US is doubling down on COVID vaccine efforts, including getting booster shots in arms. (President Joe Biden's campaign also includes "free" at-home COVID-19 test kits and stricter travel rules for international travelers.)
"The recent emergence of the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) further emphasizes the importance of vaccination, boosters, and prevention efforts needed to protect against COVID-19," the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says in updated guidance online. "Early data from South Africa suggest increased transmissibility of the Omicron variant and the potential for immune evasion."
The CDC urges booster shots for anyone over 18 six months after their second dose of Moderna or Pfizer, and two months after getting a single Johnson & Johnson dose.
While much is still unknown about the vaccine response to the new omicron variant, health professionals believe that booster shots from Moderna and Pfizer could help slow COVID's spread, reducing hospitalization and deaths, as the effects of the vaccine weaken over time.
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