The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced this week that people 65 and older or with certain medical conditions can now receive a second dose of the latest coronavirus vaccine six months after the first dose.
The recommendations cover the 2024-25 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines, which first became available at the end of August.
Experts say older people and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of developing severe coronavirus infection. The CDC has announced that more than 81% of deaths from COVID-19 have occurred in people 65 and older.
Dr. Justin Chan, director of infection prevention and control at Bellevue Hospital Center, called this an “important recommendation that will save lives.”
“Vaccination does not guarantee that you will not get COVID-19, but it will significantly reduce your chances of becoming seriously ill,” Chan told Newsday in an email. “We also know that the immune protection provided by COVID-19 vaccines declines over time, so a booster shot six months after the first dose will increase immunity in this vulnerable group. You will get a longer-lasting protective effect.”
Medical conditions that increase the risk of severe illness from COVID-19 include cancer, lung disease, diabetes, asthma, and diseases that affect the heart or liver.
The CDC’s recommendation states that people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised can receive a third or even fourth dose if they and their health care provider agree.
Interest in vaccination against the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is waning year by year. Last year, only about 14% of children and 22.5% of adults reported receiving the latest 2023-24 COVID-19 vaccine, according to national data.
The CDC reports that so far this year, 4.8% of children and 13.5% of adults 18 and older have been vaccinated since Aug. 27.
On Long Island, 11.7% of people ages 65 to 74 and 16.5% of people 75 and older reported receiving the latest COVID-19 vaccine, according to data from the New York State Department of Health.
In other age groups, fewer than 5% of people received the latest vaccine.
Some experts are hopeful that this summer’s unusually active surge in coronavirus infections may encourage more people to get vaccinated.
Dr. Geeta Sood, an assistant professor of infectious diseases at Johns Hopkins University, said getting vaccinated also reduces the chance of long-term illness from COVID-19, which researchers are not sure about. He said he was still trying to figure it out.
“We’re learning more about the biology of what’s going on with COVID-19, and how serious complications are likely to occur from COVID-19 infection, even if it’s not an acute infection. We are also learning a lot about whether there is a
Lisa joined Newsday in 2019 as a staff writer. Previously, she covered politics, government, and general assignments at amNewYork, the New York Daily News, and the Asbury Park Press.
