COVID-19 vaccine update approved for broad use
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EmailFDA approves COVID-19 vaccine update to protect against new variants
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration or FDA recently announced updates to its COVID-19 vaccine recommendations to better protect communities against new COVID-19 variants and the serious complications it can cause, such as hospitalization and death. This update comes as the FDA anticipates the need to receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine annually, similar to the current recommendation for the influenza vaccine, to maximize protection and limit the number of serious cases that come from a COVID-19 infection.
The FDA updates include approval of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for use in people five years old and above regardless of previous vaccination, as well as children ages six months to four years. The number of doses a person is eligible to get depends on their previous vaccination history.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that since the beginning of the pandemic, over six million people have been infected with COVID-19 and over 1.1 million people have died from COVID-19 in the United States. Approximately 81% of the U.S. population, or just over 676 million Americans, have gotten at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
In an FDA press release, Director of the Center for Biologies Evaluation and Research, Peter Marks, reiterated that the COVID-19 vaccine has passed rigorous scientific safety standards and is both safe and effective. Everyone is encouraged to speak with their healthcare provider to see if the COVID-19 vaccine is right for them.
Where can you find vaccines?
To find a vaccine, check with your primary care physician, local health departments, pharmacies, and clinics. You can also visit www.vaccines.gov to locate a vaccine clinic near you.
If you would like to learn more about vaccines, check out Michigan State University Extension’s partnership with the Michigan Vaccine Project to find links to event schedules, podcasts, publications, webinars and videos relating to vaccine education.
