CDC Urges COVID Booster As Cases Rise Nationwide

The Centers for Disease Control is urging the public to get a COVID booster shot because of the rising number of cases, deaths, and hospitalizations across the country.

In a press release Monday, the CDC said COVID-19 Community Levels are at medium to high levels in 75% of counties nationwide.

As we reported last week, both Franklin and Hart counties have been ranked in the Medium range for confirmed cases and hospitalizations.

According to the CDC’s COVID Data Tracker, only about 34% of people who are eligible for a COVID-19 booster and about 29% of people ages 50 years and older who are eligible for a second booster have gotten one.

Booster vaccination rates vary widely across the United States. In the Northeast and parts of the Midwest, 50% to 70% of eligible people have gotten a first booster in almost every county.

However, much of the Southeast and Southwest are in the 30% to 40% range, which means millions of people are not fully protected because they are not up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines.

According to the CDC, the Omicron BA.5 variant is the predominant variant, causing an estimated 78% of cases.

BA.5 has fueled the rapid rise in cases since June, suggesting that it spreads more easily than previous Omicron lineages.

Both the rise in cases and the gradual decrease in vaccine protection since your last shot make now an especially important time to get up to date on COVID-19 vaccines.

COVID booster shots are available at most pharmacies and at all District 2 Public Health health departments.