If You Live in the U.S., You’re Allowed to Get a Booster Now. But Should You?
All adults in the U.S. can now get a COVID-19 booster shot. But the federal government has so far opted for less-than-urgent language around the recommendation, using words like “should” and “may”—leaving many without real motivation to seek out an additional dose, despite the fact that many experts now say those shots are needed.
For months, public health officials disagreed about who needed boosters, and guidance varied to the point of whiplash. As of last week, all Americans over age 18—millions of people—are eligible for the additional dose, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that for most of them, the decision is essentially up to each individual. Those who are 50 and older, or who live in a long-term care setting, “should” get a booster six months after their second Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna dose; anyone else “may” get one. (All adults who got the single-dose Johnson&Johnson-Janssen vaccine should get a booster.)
As my colleague Alice Park reports, there are compelling reasons for all U.S. adults to get a booster shot, especially as cases climb throughout much of the country: Early data suggest a significant decline in the vaccines’ effectiveness at preventing infection, and a booster may lead to higher levels of virus-fighting antibodies.
Alice talked to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Biden Administration’s chief medical advisor on COVID-19. Fauci is adamant about the necessity of booster doses and finds the CDC’s language confusing. “If you really want people to get a booster, just tell them what to do,” he says.
In a press briefing yesterday, CDC head Dr. Rochelle Walensky said “everyone over 18 years of age is eligible to get boosted. So, if you’re 18 years and older, I encourage you to go get boosted.” But that falls short of recommending that people get a booster shot, says Dr. Leana Wen, professor of health policy and management at George Washington University. “The issue is whether the booster is essential vs. nice-to-have,” she told Alice. “Right now the guidance is phrased as the original vaccination provides pretty good protection, and if you want to get a little extra protection, get boosted. That is not the case. The booster is not like topping up the immune protection; it’s more like game-changing.”
Given that, the CDC may want to—or probably should—opt for stronger language that truly urges all adults to get a booster shot.
More than 566 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been shipped to various U.S. states as of yesterday evening, of which more than 451 million doses have been administered, according to TIME's vaccine tracker. About 59.1% of Americans have been completely vaccinated.
More than 258 million people around the world had been diagnosed with COVID-19 as of 1 a.m. E.T. today, and more than 5.1 million people have died. On Nov. 22, there were 713,050 new cases and 8,327 new deaths confirmed globally.
Here's how the world as a whole is currently trending:
Here's where daily cases have risen or fallen over the last 14 days, shown in confirmed cases per 100,000 residents:
And here's every country that has reported over 5 million cases:
The U.S. had recorded more than 47.8 million coronavirus cases as of 1 a.m. E.T. today. More than 772,000 people have died. On Nov. 22, there were 157,580 new cases and 1,226 new deaths confirmed in the U.S.
Here's how the country as a whole is currently trending:
Here's where daily cases have risen or fallen over the last 14 days, shown in confirmed cases per 100,000 residents:
All numbers unless otherwise specified are from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering, and are accurate as of Nov. 23, 12 a.m. E.T. To see larger, interactive versions of these maps and charts, click here.
WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD KNOW
Although COVID-19 cases are rising in the U.S., the country isn’t headed toward European-style lockdowns, White House coronavirus response coordinator Jeff Zients said Monday, in a press briefing. “We have the tools to accelerate the path out of this pandemic: widely available vaccinations, booster shots, kids’ shots, therapeutics,” he said. Daily cases in the U.S. have increased by about 29.5% over the past 14 days, according to TIME’s tracker.
Deaths from COVID-19 in Europe will likely top 2 million by March, World Health Organization officials are warning. The region is being hit by a surge that has seen daily deaths rise to nearly 4,200 a day, which is double the average in September, the Guardian reports. Coronavirus-related deaths have already topped 1.5 million there.
Israel has started vaccinating 5- to 11-year-olds against the coronavirus. The campaign is particularly important because this age group makes up nearly half of the country’s current cases, the Associated Press reports. There was low demand, however, on the first day the shots were available for children. “It protects our children and also parents,” Prime Minister David Bennett said as he urged vaccination for all.
COVID-19 cases among U.S. children have jumped 32% compared to about two weeks ago. More than 140,000 kids tested positive between Nov. 11 and Nov. 18, up from 107,000 in the week ending Nov. 4, according to a statement released yesterday by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association. While severe illness from COVID-19 is uncommon among children, the groups described an “urgent need” for more data on the long-term physical, emotional and mental health effects in this age group.
The Biden Administration filed a 52-page motion today asking a federal appeals court to allow it to proceed with a vaccine mandate for large companies. In the motion, the Justice Department says the rule would “save thousands of lives and prevent hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations.” The mandate, issued earlier this month by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, was almost immediately challenged, and a court temporarily blocked the government from proceeding with enforcement.
Santa is back this year, but families are cautioned to approach meet-and-greets carefully: “Be smart. Be caring. If you have the tiniest tickle in your throat, the tiniest feeling … know Santa will always be there next year," one man who portrays Mr. Claus told the Associated Press. Some Santas are conducting full-contact visits, which means kids can sit in their laps, while others will remain behind barriers. About 8.9 million households are expected to visit Santa in person this year; virtual visits will continue to be popular, experts predict.
Thanks for reading. We hope you find the Coronavirus Brief newsletter to be a helpful tool to navigate this very complex situation, and welcome feedback at coronavirus.brief@time.com. If you have specific questions you'd like us to answer, please send them to covidquestions@time.com.
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Today's newsletter was written by Angela Haupt and edited by Elijah Wolfson.
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