Omicron booster rollout has been slow in Ohio

Demand for Omicron boosters is off to a gradual begin.

What’s occurring: Simply over 325,000 Ohioans have acquired a dose of the up to date COVID-19 photographs — known as bivalent vaccines — since they rolled out in late September.

• That is about 3.25% of Ohioans who’re age eligible to obtain the shot.
• Greater than 75% of up to date booster recipients are 50 and older.

Why it issues: Well being consultants say the boosters may present additional safety from severe sickness heading into the autumn.

The newest: COVID instances have dropped 41% over the previous three weeks and hospitalizations by 31%, per the state’s dashboard.

Sure, however: A current uptick within the U.Okay. has some consultants nervous one other wave will hit the U.S. later this fall, CNN experiences.

Between the traces: The expedited approach wherein the photographs have been rolled out and unknowns on how effectively they’re going to work have left many Individuals leery and stuffed with questions, Axios’ Tina Reed and Adriel Bettelheim write.

• “Vaccine fatigue” may be an element.
• Plus many who have been already contaminated with Omicron or acquired an earlier model of the booster over the summer season could also be ready to maximise its results.

Zoom out: Greater than 7.5 million individuals nationwide have acquired up to date boosters to date — lower than 4% of these eligible, NBC experiences.

Zoom in: Columbus Public Well being will start providing drive-thru clinics this week to make it much more handy to get boosted, a spokesperson tells Axios.

What they’re saying: Booster uptake elevated 28% between Sept. 19-28 in comparison with 10 days prior, so state well being officers are “hopeful that the variety of recipients will proceed to extend,” an Ohio Division of Well being spokesperson tells Axios over electronic mail.

What we’re watching: Pfizer and BioNTech at the moment are looking for emergency use authorization from the FDA for its Omicron-specific booster for youngsters ages 5-11, Axios’ Erin Doherty and Adriel Bettelheim write.

• The shot is at the moment solely out there for these 12 and older. Moderna’s model is for these 18 and up.

💭 Alissa’s thought bubble: After a bout with Omicron in late Might, I am ready only a bit longer earlier than getting my new booster and flu shot collectively. Just one spherical of (potential) negative effects!

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