Here's how you should time your next COVID shot, according to experts
(WGN Radio) – As the summer surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continues, an updated vaccine to protect against the virus is on the way.
An updated booster shot will be available to Americans this fall, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed. The CDC advises everyone 6 months and older get the new booster as soon as it's available, regardless of whether or not they've been vaccinated before.
"These are the top vaccine people in the country and their recommendation is that everyone eligible should get it," said Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, chief medical officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital.
The shots are expected to become available in August and September, the Associated Press reports.
The updated booster won't be a combination COVID-influenza vaccine, Kopin said. That shot won't be available until at least next year, he said.
Listen to Dr. Kopin's full interview with WGN Radio below.
Health officials have told Americans to expect a yearly update to COVID-19 vaccines, just like they are recommended to get a new shot each fall to protect against the latest flu strains.
But many Americans aren't heeding the CDC's advice.
As of last month, less than one-quarter of U.S. adults and 14% of children were up to date in their COVID shots. Surveys show shrinking percentages of Americans think COVID-19 is a major health threat to the U.S. population, and indicate that fewer doctors are urging patients to get updated vaccines.
CDC officials on Thursday presented recent survey information in which about 23% of respondents said they would definitely get an updated COVID-19 shot this fall, but 33% said they definitely would not.
About 1.2 million U.S. COVID-associated deaths have been reported since early 2020, according to the CDC. The toll was most intense in the winter of 2020-2021, when weekly deaths surpassed 20,000. About 1 out of every 100 Americans ages 75 and older were hospitalized with COVID in the last four years, CDC officials said Thursday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.