(BPT) - Winter has arrived, and with more people starting to gather indoors in close quarters, it's important to remember that COVID-19 continues to pose a health risk – especially for older adults and those at high-risk for severe disease.i,ii Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that between October 1, 2024, and September 20, 2025, COVID-19 led to over 380,000 hospitalizations and 44,000 deaths in the United States.iii
With more questions than ever this season, here's what you need to know about staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccination:
kAmkDEC@?8mxD r~'xs\`h DE:== 2 4@?46C? E9:D H:?E6Cnk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm*6D[ r~'xs\`h 92D?VE 8@?6 2H2J[ 2?5 9@DA:E2=:K2E:@?D 92G6 4@?D:DE6?E=J C:D6? 5FC:?8 72== 2?5 H:?E6C >@?E9D @G6C E96 A2DE 7@FC J62CD]kDFAm:Gk^DFAm %9@F89 r~'xs\`h >2:?E2:?D 2 J62C\C@F?5 AC6D6?46[ 42D6D C:D6 2D E6>A6C2EFC6D 5C@A[ A6@A=6 >@G6 24E:G:E:6D :?D:56[ 2?5 9@=:52J 82E96C:?8D 3C:?8 >@C6 A6@A=6 E@86E96C]kDFAm:G[Gk^DFAmk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(92E 2C6 C:D< 724E@CD 7@C D6G6C6 r~'xs\`hnk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmp86 :D @?6 @7 E96 3:886DE C:D< 724E@CD]kDFAm::k^DFAm %9@D6 2865 ed 2?5 @=56C 244@F?E 7@C @G6C f_T @7 r~'xs\`h\C6=2E65 9@DA:E2=:K2E:@?D]kDFAmG:k^DFAm p86\C6=2E65 H62<6?:?8 @7 E96 :>>F?6 DJDE6> >2<6D :E 92C56C 7@C @=56C 3@5:6D E@ 7:89E @77 :?764E:@?[ 2?5 E96 C:D< @7 D6G6C6 :==?6DD :?4C62D6D H:E9 6249 255:E:@?2= F?56C=J:?8 962=E9 4@?5:E:@? J@F >2J 92G6]kDFAm::[G::k^DFAmk^Am
kAmx7 J@FVC6 >@56C2E6=J @C D6G6C6=J :>>F?@4@>AC@>:D65[ H96E96C 5F6 E@ >65:42= 4@?5:E:@?D[ DF49 2D 49C@?:4 =F?8[ =:G6C[ @C <:5?6J 5:D62D6D[ @C 2C6 E2<:?8 >65:42E:@? E92E DFAAC6DD6D J@FC :>>F?6 DJDE6>[ J@FVC6 2=D@ 2E :?4C62D65 C:D< 7@C D6G6C6 r~'xs\`h @FE4@>6D]kDFAm::k^DFAmk^Am
kAmQ|2?J A6@A=6 E9:?< r~'xs\`h :D 369:?5 FD[ 3FE :E 4@?E:?F6D E@ 42FD6 D6C:@FD :==?6DD[ 6DA64:2==J 2>@?8 E9@D6 2E 9:89\C:D<[ A2CE:4F=2C=J E96 6=56C=J 2?5 A6@A=6 H:E9 4@>AC@>:D65 :>>F?6 DJDE6>D[Q D2:5 sC] ~?J6>2 ~83F28F[ |qqr9[ !C@76DD@C @7 |65:4:?6 2?5 !92C>24@=@8J 2E *2=6 $49@@= @7 |65:4:?6]kDFAm::[G:::k^DFAm Qr~'xs\`h G244:?6D 2C6 A6C:@5:42==J FA52E65 E@ 96=A AC@G:56 AC@E64E:@? 2D E96 r~'xs\`h G:CFD 6G@=G6D W@C >FE2E6DX[ H9:49 :D H9J DE2J:?8 :?7@C>65 23@FE J@FC C:D< 724E@CD 2?5 AC@E64E:@? @AE:@?D :D D@ :>A@CE2?E]QkDFAm:Ik^DFAmk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mr2? x 86E >J 7=F 2?5 r~'xs\`h G244:?6D 2E E96 D2>6 E:>6nk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm*@F >2J C646:G6 3@E9 G244:?6D 5FC:?8 E96 D2>6 G:D:E :7 J@F 2C6 6=:8:3=6[ 2D E96C6VD ?@ C6BF:C65 H2:E:?8 A6C:@5 36EH66? 7=F 2?5 r~'xs\`h G244:?6D]kDFAmIk^DFAm v6EE:?8 3@E9 2E @?46 42? 96=A D2G6 2 EC:A E@ E96 A92C>24J 2?5 AC@E64E J@F 282:?DE 3@E9 C6DA:C2E@CJ :==?6DD6D D:>F=E2?6@FD=J 29625 @7 E96 H:?E6C D62D@?]kDFAm:I[I[I:k^DFAmk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8ms@ x ?665 2?@E96C G244:?6 :7 x 8@E @?6 =2DE J62Cn p> x 6=:8:3=6 7@C 2? FA52E65 G244:?2E:@?nk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmx>>F?:EJ 7C@> AC6G:@FD G244:?2E:@?D @C :?764E:@?D 564C62D6D @G6C E:>6[ 2?5 ?6H G2C:2?ED 4@?E:?F6 E@ 6G@=G6[ D@ 2? FA52E65 r~'xs\`h G244:?6 >2J 36 C:89E 7@C J@F]kDFAm:I[I::k^DFAm %96 rsr C64@>>6?5D E92E 6G6CJ@?6 DA62< H:E9 E96:C 962=E942C6 AC@G:56CD 23@FE H96E96C 255:E:@?2= 5@D6D @7 E96 FA52E65 r~'xs\`h G244:?6 2C6 2AAC@AC:2E6 7@C E96>[ 6DA64:2==J A6@A=6 ed J62CD 2?5 @=56C 2?5 E9@D6 H9@ 2C6 >@56C2E6=J @C D6G6C6=J :>>F?@4@>AC@>:D65]kDFAm:I[I:::k^DFAmk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mxVG6 962C5 23@FE {@?8 r~'xs] (92E :D :En (9@ :D 2E C:D<nk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm{@?8 r~'xs :D 2 D6C:@FD :==?6DD H:E9 2 C2?86 @7 @?8@:?8 DJ>AE@>D E92E 42? =625 E@ 49C@?:4 4@?5:E:@?D]kDFAmI:Gk^DFAm xE 42? 2=D@ 27764E 2?J@?6 C682C5=6DD @7 286 @C AC:@C 962=E9 DE2EFD]kDFAmI:Gk^DFAm w62=E942C6 AC@76DD:@?2=D 6DE:>2E6 E92E 2AAC@I:>2E6=J ahT @7 p>6C:42?D H9@ 92G6 925 r~'xs\`h 6IA6C:6?46 {@?8 r~'xs]kDFAmIGk^DFAm %9:D 49C@?:4 4@?5:E:@? 42? :?4=F56 DJ>AE@>D DF49 2D 72E:8F6[ 496DE A2:?[ 2?5 5:77:4F=EJ 4@?46?EC2E:?8 E92E >2J =2DE 7@C >@?E9D @C 6G6? J62CD]kDFAmIG:k^DFAmk^Am
kAm~=56C 25F=ED[ :>>F?@4@>AC@>:D65 :?5:G:5F2=D[ 2?5 E9@D6 H9@ 5:5 ?@E C646:G6 2 r~'xs\`h G244:?6 H9@ 4@?EC24E r~'xs\`h 7246 2? 6=6G2E65 C:D< @7 56G6=@A:?8 {@?8 r~'xs]kDFAmI:Gk^DFAmk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mw@H 42? x 36DE AC@E64E >JD6=7nk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%2=< H:E9 J@FC 962=E942C6 AC@G:56C 23@FE J@FC A6CD@?2= C:D< 724E@CD 2?5 H92E DE6AD 2C6 C:89E 7@C J@F[ :?4=F5:?8 H96E96C J@FVC6 FA E@ 52E6 H:E9 G244:?2E:@?D]k^Am
kAm%@ =62C? >@C6 23@FE E96 r~'xs\`h G244:?6[ G:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^4@G:5^G244:?6D^9@H\E96J\H@C<]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmrsr]8@Gk^2m] %@ 7:?5 2 G244:?6 ?62C J@F[ G:D:E E96 r92>A:@?D 7@C '244:?6 t5F42E:@?[ tBF:EJ 2?5 !C@8C6DD Wr'tt!X k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4G66A]@C8^G244:?6\=@42E@C^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmG244:?6 =@42E@Ck^2m]k^Am
kAm$A@?D@C65 3J |@56C?2]k^Am
kAmk^Am
k5:Gmk5:G :5lQ65?`QmkAm: rsr[ a_ad] p446DD65 ~4E@36C ac[ a_ad] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^C6DA\?6E^52D93@2C5^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^C6DA\?6E^52D93@2C5^k^2mk^Amk^5:Gmk5:G :5lQ65?aQmkAm:: rsr[ a_ad] !6@A=6 H:E9 r6CE2:? |65:42= r@?5:E:@?D 2?5 r~'xs\`h #:D< u24E@CD] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^4@G:5^C:D<\724E@CD^:?56I]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^4@G:5^C:D<\724E@CD^:?56I]9E>=k^2mk^Amk^5:Gmk5:G :5lQ65?bQmkAm::: rsr[ a_ac] p446DD65 ~4E@36C ac[ a_ad] !C6=:>:?2CJ tDE:>2E6D @7 r~'xs\`h qFC56? 7@C a_ac\a_ad] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^4@G:5^A9A^DFCG6:==2?46^3FC56?\6DE:>2E6D]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^4@G:5^A9A^DFCG6:==2?46^3FC56?\6DE:>2E6D]9E>=k^2mk^Amk^5:Gmk5:G :5lQ65?cQmkAm:G rsr[ a_ad] p446DD65 ~4E@36C ac[ a_ad] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^4@G:5^A9A^4@G:5\?6E^:?56I]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^4@G:5^A9A^4@G:5\?6E^:?56I]9E>=k^2mk^Amk^5:Gmk5:G :5lQ65?dQmkAmG rsr[ a_ac] p446DD65 }@G6>36C `f[ a_ad] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^?4:C5^H92ED\?6H^C65F46\J@FC\C:D<\7C@>\C6DA:C2E@CJ\G:CFD6D\E9:D\9@=:52J\D62D@?]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^?4:C5^H92ED\?6H^C65F46\J@FC\C:D<\7C@>\C6DA:C2E@CJ\G:CFD6D\E9:D\9@=:52J\D62D@?]9E>=Rk^2mk^Amk^5:Gmk5:G :5lQ65?eQmkAmG: rsr[ a_ad] prx! yF?6 ad–ae[ a_ad] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^24:A^5@H?=@25D^D=:56D\a_ad\_e\ad\ae^_a\|24}6:=\r~'xs\d_g]A57Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^24:A^5@H?=@25D^D=:56D\a_ad\_e\ad\ae^_a\|24}6:=\r~'xs\d_g]A57k^2mk^Amk^5:Gmk5:G :5lQ65?fQmkAmG:: w2J?6D {] p8:?8 @7 E96 x>>F?6 $JDE6>] uC@?E:6CD :? p8:?8] a_a_j`ie_a`_g] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]bbgh^7C28:]a_a_]e_a`_gQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]bbgh^7C28:]a_a_]e_a`_gk^2mk^Amk^5:Gmk5:G :5lQ65?gQmkAmG::: $:=<[ q] y] Wa_abX] r~'xs\`h DFCG6:==2?46 27E6C 6IA:C2E:@? @7 E96 AF3=:4 962=E9 6>6C86?4J 564=2C2E:@? &?:E65 $E2E6D[ |2J ``[ a_ab] k6>m||(#] |@C3:5:EJ 2?5 |@CE2=:EJ (66<=J #6A@CEk^6>m[nfa]k^Amk^5:Gmk5:G :5lQ65?hQmkAm:I rsr[ a_ad] $E2J &A E@ s2E6 H:E9 r~'xs\`h '244:?6D] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^4@G:5^G244:?6D^DE2J\FA\E@\52E6]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^4@G:5^G244:?6D^DE2J\FA\E@\52E6]9E>=k^2mk^Amk^5:Gmk5:G :5lQ65?`_QmkAmI rsr[ a_ac] v6EE:?8 2 u=F '244:?6 2?5 @E96C #64@>>6?565 '244:?6D 2E E96 $2>6 %:>6] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^7=F^G244:?6D^4@25>:?:DEC2E:@?]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^7=F^G244:?6D^4@25>:?:DEC2E:@?]9E>=k^2m]k^Amk^5:Gmk5:G :5lQ65?``QmkAmI: rsr[ a_ac] z6J u24ED p3@FE $62D@?2= u=F '244:?6] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^7=F^G244:?6D^<6J724ED]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^7=F^G244:?6D^<6J724ED]9E>=k^2m]k^Amk^5:Gmk5:G :5lQ65?`aQmkAmI:: rsr[ a_ad] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^4@G:5^A9A^G2C:2?ED^G2C:2?ED\2?5\86?@>:4\DFCG6:==2?46]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^4@G:5^A9A^G2C:2?ED^G2C:2?ED\2?5\86?@>:4\DFCG6:==2?46]9E>=k^2mk^Amk^5:Gmk5:G :5lQ65?`bQmkAmI::: rsr[ a_ad] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^>65:2^C6=62D6D^a_ad^454\:>>F?:K2E:@?\D4965F=6\25@AED\:?5:G:5F2=\32D65\564:D:@?]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^>65:2^C6=62D6D^a_ad^454\:>>F?:K2E:@?\D4965F=6\25@AED\:?5:G:5F2=\32D65\564:D:@?]9E>=k^2mk^Amk^5:Gmk5:G :5lQ65?`cQmkAmI:G rsr[ a_ad] {@?8 r~'xs q2D:4D] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^4@G:5^=@?8\E6C>\67764ED^:?56I]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^4@G:5^=@?8\E6C>\67764ED^:?56I]9E>=k^2mk^Amk^5:Gmk5:G :5lQ65?`dQmkAmIG w@F[ *][ vF] Wa_adX] v=@32= AC6G2=6?46 @7 =@?8 r~'xs[ :ED DF3EJA6D[ 2?5 C:D< 724E@CDi p? FA52E65 DJDE6>2E:4 C6G:6H 2?5 >6E2\2?2=JD:D] k6>m~A6? u@CF> x?764E:@FD s:D62D6D[ `ak^6>mWhX[ @727dbb] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_hb^@7:5^@727dbbQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_hb^@7:5^@727dbbk^2mk^Amk^5:Gmk5:G :5lQ65?`eQmkAmIG: rsr[ a_ad] {@?8 r~'xs $:8?D 2?5 $J>AE@>D] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^=@?8\4@G:5^D:8?D\DJ>AE@>D^:?56I]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^=@?8\4@G:5^D:8?D\DJ>AE@>D^:?56I]9E>=k^2mk^Amk^5:Gmk^5:Gm
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.