It’s time for another COVID-19 vaccine, according to the CDC, as the latest booster is on track to hit stores this week.
This new booster is designed to protect against the latest strain, giving our community a chance to keep up with the virus.
The question on the table: Will people get it?
One Tucsonan we spoke to tells News 4 Tucson he will be getting the vaccine.
“I think it’s good, people are going to get it. If I can get it, I will. I’ve had all my shots except for the new one,” said Khalil Gatto.
Others are less confident.
“I have had two boosters. And I have had Covid three times,” said Richard Hyatt.
Hyatt says he won’t be queuing up for this booster because he’s just not worried.
“I just think everyone’s a bit more savvy now. People still keep their social distance, people wash their hands, people don’t go out as much. I think there’s a lot more things in place that weren’t in place before COVID,” Hyatt said.
News 4 Tucson spoke to Dr Kirin Raman of the Arizona Department of Health Services. She explained that as a virus, COVID will continue to mutate into different forms, creating sub-variants.
She adds that she expects these rounds of COVID vaccinations to be as routine as the flu vaccine.
“It’s to be expected. We will be living with COVID for the foreseeable future. And as individual and community immunity wanes, there’s going to be this push and pull between infection and immunity,” Dr Raman said.
As we head into the autumn season, we can expect to see an increase in COVID in Arizona and across the country.
“We definitely don’t want to be in a situation where we were a couple of years ago,” Dr Raman said. “So if we have a great tool in our toolbox, like an updated COVID vaccine that targets the strains that are coming through this country, why not get it?”
For more information on this new booster, including where to get it, click here.
Free COVID test kits will be available again from Monday. The government is resuming orders for the COVID home tests. You can apply for four tests per household.
