US health officials call for booster shots against COVID-19
Al JazeeraSurging Delta variant and evidence that the vaccines’ effectiveness fades after eight months drive call for boosters. US health officials are recommending that all Americans get COVID-19 booster jabs to shore up their protection amid the surging delta variant and evidence that the vaccines’ effectiveness is falling. “This is likely due to both waning immunity, and the strength of the widespread Delta variant,” Murthy said in a public briefing by the White House COVID-19 response team. Health officials said it is “very clear” that the vaccines’ protection against infection wanes over time, and now, with the highly contagious delta variant spreading rapidly, “we are starting to see evidence of reduced protection against mild and moderate disease.” “Based on our latest assessment, the current protection against severe disease, hospitalization and death could diminish in the months ahead,” officials said in a joint statement released by the Department of Health and Human Services. both are critical.” New data confirmed that vaccine protection against COVID-19 has decreased for the Delta variant of the virus, CDC Director Dr Rochelle Walensky said.