"The groundwork of all happiness is health." - Leigh Hunt

FDA calls for annual COVID vaccinations like annual flu shots

January 23, 2023 – U.S. health officials need to simplify the really useful COVID-19 vaccination protocol and make it more much like the method for the annual flu shot.

The US Food and Drug Administration proposes a individual annual shotThe formulation could be chosen in June, targeting essentially the most threatening COVID-19 strains, and other people could then get a vaccination in the autumn, once they spend more time indoors and exposure increases.

Some people, corresponding to the elderly or immunocompromised, may have multiple dose.

A national advisory committee is anticipated to vote on the proposal at a gathering on Thursday.

In the U.S., persons are significantly less prone to receive a current COVID-19 booster shot than they were with widespread uptake of the first vaccination series. In its proposal, the FDA said it hoped a single annual vaccination would overcome challenges posed by the complexity of the method — each when it comes to communication and administration — which are a results of this low booster rate. Nine out of 10 people ages 12 and older within the U.S. have received the first vaccination series, but only 15% have received essentially the most recent COVID-19 booster shot.

About half of youngsters and adults within the United States receive Flu vaccinationin line with CDC data.

In addition, the FDA desires to move to a uniform COVID-19 vaccine formulation for use for the first vaccination series and for booster vaccinations.

COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths are declining, in line with Data tracker out of The New York Times. Cases are down 28%, now at 47,290 per day. Hospitalizations are down 22%, now at 37,474 per day. Deaths are down 4%, averaging 489 per day since Sunday.