The Claim:
With updated COVID boosters anticipated very soon, news that health officials in the UK are reserving boosters for the most vulnerable and people over 65, many are questioning why they aren’t being offered the vaccine, and anti-vaxxers are using the moment to make sure people do not get vaccinated.
The Facts:
The UK government operates its healthcare system, so there are times that they recommend or don’t recommend vaccines based on cost to the system. The United States healthcare system usually operates through a person’s employer, and costs are shared over a broader swath of people, entities, businesses, and so forth. Recommending universal COVID boosters is a medical rather than economic decision.
So what is the science behind getting a booster even if you are healthy?
COVID cases are rising again in some places, and more people are getting sick enough to need hospital care. This might be happening because the protection from the vaccine isn’t as strong as before. The vaccine works better against the old variants of the virus, and new variants of the virus are making people sick.
The COVID pandemic is ongoing despite the perception that it’s over. Up to 500 people still die from the virus each week. Vaccines have saved lives and prevented hospitalizations. As colder weather approaches and people spend more time indoors, doctors recommend getting another COVID booster in the fall for maximal protection.
Disclaimer: Science is always evolving and our understanding of these topics may have evolved too since this was originally posted. Be sure to check out our most recent posts and browse the latest Just the Facts Topics for the latest.
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