The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced on Wednesday that senior citizens in the United States should receive a second COVID-19 vaccine dose, even if they already received a booster in the autumn season.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that individuals who are 65 years old or older should receive an additional dose of the recently updated vaccine, which became available in September, if at least four months have passed since their previous shot. This recommendation was made after the agency endorsed the guidance suggested by an expert panel earlier in the day.

“The majority of individuals who died or were hospitalized due to COVID-19 last year were over the age of 65. According to CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen, receiving an extra dose of the vaccine can offer increased protection for those who are most vulnerable.”

After a prolonged debate among experts, the advisory panel ultimately made a decision regarding whether older individuals should or may receive additional vaccine shots. This reflects the ongoing discussion surrounding the necessity of another booster and how additional recommendations may contribute to the public’s increasing exhaustion with vaccinations.

Certain physicians claim that the majority of elderly individuals are sufficiently safeguarded by the autumn vaccination. This immunity is strengthened by previous vaccinations and exposure to the virus. Furthermore, initial research has demonstrated that vaccine efficacy does not significantly decrease over a period of six months.

Unfortunately, the body’s immune response to vaccinations weakens over time, and this process is accelerated in elderly individuals compared to other adults. As a result, the committee decided to suggest administering additional COVID-19 booster shots to seniors in the years 2022 and 2023.

The coronavirus, or COVID-19, continues to pose a threat, particularly to individuals who are older or have pre-existing health issues. According to the CDC, the number of hospitalizations and fatalities related to COVID-19 still exceeds 20,000 and 2,000 respectively each week. Moreover, those aged 65 and above have the highest rates of hospitalization and death.

Several members of the advisory panel suggested that the use of the word “should” in the recommendation is intended to more explicitly encourage doctors and pharmacists to administer the vaccinations.

Dr. Jamie Loehr, a member of the committee and a family doctor in Ithaca, New York, stated that the majority of individuals either desire or do not desire the vaccine. The goal is to simplify the process for healthcare providers to endorse the vaccine by making it easier for them to say, “Yes, we recommend this.”

In September, the government suggested a revised COVID-19 vaccine formula designed to combat a variation of the coronavirus known as XBB.1.5. This single-target vaccine replaced previous combination vaccines that targeted both the original strain of coronavirus and an earlier variant, omicron.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised administering the new vaccinations to individuals aged 6 months and older. Additionally, those with compromised immune systems may receive a second dose as soon as two months following the initial dose.

Most Americans haven’t listened. According to the latest CDC data, 13% of U.S. children have gotten the shots and about 22% of U.S. adults have. The vaccination rate is higher for adults 65 and older, at nearly 42%.

According to Dr. David Canaday, a specialist in infectious diseases at Case Western Reserve University who focuses on COVID-19 in older individuals, there has been a decline in the percentage of people receiving each subsequent vaccine.

Canaday, who is not a member of the committee, stated that individuals are fatigued from continuously receiving multiple vaccinations and cautioned against excessive vaccine recommendations.

However, a specific group of individuals in the United States, those who are at a greater risk of experiencing severe illness and death, have been inquiring about the possibility of receiving an additional dose. This was stated by Dr. William Schaffner, an expert on vaccines from Vanderbilt University who is a member of a committee workgroup tasked with debating the issue of booster shots.

The survey data from the CDC indicates that the primary concern of the group regarding the vaccine is its level of effectiveness.

According to agency officials, individuals who have received the most recent form of the COVID-19 vaccine have a 50% lower chance of falling ill after being exposed to the virus, compared to those who did not receive the autumn vaccine.

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The Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group provides support to the Associated Press Health and Science Department. The AP is responsible for all content.