All vaccinated adults should get a COVID-19 booster shot because of the omicron variant, CDC says

places everybody experienced business and the song. Yeah the omicron variant has More than 30 mutations in that spike protein. And some of these mutations are ones that we've seen with highly transmissible variants like the delta variant. And some of these mutations are ones we've seen with variants that have shown some immune escape like the earlier beta variant. And then there are two dozen or so variants that are really unique to this uh to this virus. But it's that combination of potential increased transmissibility and ability, potential ability to escape our immune system that has everyone worried. Yeah, we just know in general that higher levels of neutralizing antibodies um are protective against across different variants. Whether that's gonna hold true with the omicron. We do not yet know. Um I think there's reason to believe that there'll certainly be some protection conferred how you get rid of it but we can't wait two or three weeks to put things in place. Um We need to start getting ready now and it has to be much more than travel restrictions. Those are going to have minimal impact. It is a balance. Um We want to take this seriously because of the combination of mutations but we don't want to panic. Um and uh we don't want to overreact as well until we really learn more about this virus. Yeah.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strengthened recommendations for booster doses of coronavirus vaccine Monday, saying all adults should get boosted six months after the second dose of Pfizer/BioNTech's or Moderna's vaccine or two months after the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.It's a slight but significant tweak to the wording of guidance issued earlier this month when the CDC endorsed an expanded emergency use authorization for boosters from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration."Today, CDC is strengthening its recommendation on booster doses for individuals who are 18 years and older," CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a statement."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," she added."Early data from South Africa suggest increased transmissibility of the Omicron variant, and scientists in the United States and around the world are urgently examining vaccine effectiveness related to this variant. I strongly encourage the 47 million adults who are not yet vaccinated to get vaccinated as soon as possible and to vaccinate the children and teens in their families as well because strong immunity will likely prevent serious illness."Previously, the CDC said people should get a booster if they are 50 and older, or 18 and older and living in long-term care. Otherwise, it is advised that anyone 18 and older may get a booster. Now the word "should" applies to everyone 18 and older.It will take a few weeks of testing to know for sure whether the omicron variant is more transmissible than delta, and whether it evades the protection offered by natural infection or vaccines. Scientists will also be looking to see if it causes more severe disease or evades the effects of treatments.In the meantime, CDC will be watching for omicron to appear in the U.S. That requires an extra step of testing as the tests used to diagnose COVID-19 won't tell people which variant they are infected with. "I also want to encourage people to get a COVID-19 test if they are sick. Increased testing will help us identify Omicron quickly," Walensky said."And finally, to stop the spread of COVID-19 we need to follow the prevention strategies we know work," she added. These include vaccination, wearing masks, improving ventilation indoors and keeping a distance from others, especially if they are unvaccinated.

It's a slight but significant tweak to the wording of guidance issued earlier this month when the CDC endorsed an expanded emergency use authorization for boosters from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

"Today, CDC is strengthening its recommendation on booster doses for individuals who are 18 years and older," CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a statement.

"The recent emergence of the (B.1.1.529) further emphasizes the importance of vaccination, boosters, and prevention efforts needed to protect against COVID-19," she added.

"Early data from South Africa suggest increased transmissibility of the Omicron variant, and scientists in the United States and around the world are urgently examining vaccine effectiveness related to this variant. I strongly encourage the 47 million adults who are not yet vaccinated to get vaccinated as soon as possible and to vaccinate the children and teens in their families as well because strong immunity will likely prevent serious illness."

Previously, the CDC said people should get a booster if they are 50 and older, or 18 and older and living in long-term care. Otherwise, it is advised that anyone 18 and older may get a booster. Now the word "should" applies to everyone 18 and older.

It will take a few weeks of testing to know for sure whether the omicron variant is more transmissible than delta, and whether it evades the protection offered by natural infection or vaccines. Scientists will also be looking to see if it causes more severe disease or evades the effects of treatments.

In the meantime, CDC will be watching for omicron to appear in the U.S. That requires an extra step of testing as the tests used to diagnose COVID-19 won't tell people which variant they are infected with. "I also want to encourage people to get a COVID-19 test if they are sick. Increased testing will help us identify Omicron quickly," Walensky said.

"And finally, to stop the spread of COVID-19 we need to follow the prevention strategies we know work," she added. These include vaccination, wearing masks, improving ventilation indoors and keeping a distance from others, especially if they are unvaccinated.

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