US Health Agency Recommends Updated COVID Boosters, President Joe Biden Calls It “Important” Milestone

Washington: The US health agency Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday (September 12) authorised, approved, and recommended everyone six months and older get an updated COVID-19 booster. Following the decision taken by the CDC as well as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), President Joe Biden called it a historic progress and said that it is an “important” milestone. According to an official White House release, Biden said, “Since entering office, my Administration has made historic progress in our ability to manage COVID-19 so that it no longer meaningfully disrupts our lives.”

https://x.com/CDCgov/status/1701716153154834792?s=20

He added,

Today marks another important milestone. Following an independent scientific review, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have now authorised, approved, and recommended everyone six months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against serious illness this fall and winter.

Also Read: COVID-19 Still A Global Health Threat, New Variant Under Scanner: WHO Chief Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus

The White House release stated that now have vaccines for all three primary seasonal respiratory viruses – COVID-19, flu, and RSV. White House release said,

As we enter the autumn and winter seasons, we are in the best possible position, with more tools and systems than ever before, including safe and effective immunisations, widely available at-home testing, and effective treatments.

Vaccination against COVID-19 is still the most effective way to avert hospitalisation, long-term health consequences, and death. The US President said,

I urge all Americans to keep their immunisations up to date.

Apparently, new Covid-19 variant EG.5 is on the rise in the US. The variant is causing about 17 per cent of the new Covid-19 cases in the country compared to 16 per cent for the next most common lineage, XBB.1.16, according to the latest estimates from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CNN reported.

Also Read: Highly Mutated COVID Variant ‘BA.2.86’ Found In New Countries: WHO

The new variant is a spinoff of the XBB recombinant strain of the Omicron family.

EG.5, compared to its parent XBB.1.9.2, has one extra mutation to its spike, at position 465. This mutation has appeared in other coronavirus variants before.

Scientists are still not aware what the new mutation enables the virus to do.

The 465 mutation is present in about 35 per cent of coronavirus sequences reported worldwide, including another that’s rising in prevalence in the Northeast, FL.1.5.1, suggesting that it is conveying some kind of evolutionary advantage over previous versions, as per CNN.

EG.5 now has its own offshoot, EG.5.1, that adds a second mutation to the spike. That one is also spreading rapidly.

Also Read: WHO Concerned Over Low Uptake Of COVID-19 Vaccine Among At-Risk People

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – theLGBTQ population,indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the currentCOVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water,SanitationandHygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fightmalnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health,adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues likeair pollution,waste management,plastic ban,manual scavengingand sanitation workers andmenstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India wheretoiletsare used andopen defecation free (ODF)status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched byPrime Minister Narendra Modiin 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.