Medical experts urge people to get the COVID-19 vaccine
The Food and Drug Administration says an improved version of the just-approved COVID-19 vaccine should be available within days.
The new vaccines are designed to more specifically target more recent strains of the virus.
Based on recent COVID case numbers in Minnesota, local medical experts are reminding people that it's just as important to get up to date on your COVID vaccination shots.
“This is really a faster pace of getting new vaccines than any vaccine we've had in the past,” said Dr. Frank Rehm, an infectious disease specialist at Arena Health.
Ramé says everyone is a bit surprised by the recent spike in COVID cases.
“Last fall, we expected it to calm down in the summer and peak in the fall, but here we're seeing an increase over the summer,” Rahm said.
Levels of the COVID-19 virus detected at treatment plants statewide have been trending upward since late June, according to a University of Minnesota graph tracking wastewater treatment plants, and the Minnesota Department of Health added that COVID hospitalizations are on the rise, especially among older adults.
“We're seeing a summer surge of infections,” said Dr. Ruth Linfield, an epidemiologist with the Minnesota Department of Health.
Linfield said his office has not received confirmation on when new COVID vaccines will arrive in the country.
“I know people are working really hard to get this medicine into pharmacies and clinics,” Linfield said.
Linfield says the CDC recommends everyone over 6 months of age be up to date on their vaccinations, even if they were vaccinated earlier during the pandemic.
“Immunity declines over time, so we want people to know that they have the opportunity to boost their immunity with this new formulation,” Linfield said.
“Revaccination is crucial,” Rahm added.
While many people are waiting to get their latest COVID vaccine shot, local health experts say flu numbers aren't that high right now, so it's okay to wait and get the flu and COVID vaccines at the same time.
“It won't be long until people can get both at the same time, and that would be ideal,” Rahm said.
“It's a good idea to get vaccinated; it gives you good protection against severe disease,” Linfield said.
This coincides with the federal government's plans to restart its free at-home COVID testing program, which provides commercially available tests at no cost.
It is scheduled to resume in September.
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