Spike in Summer Covid Cases Nationwide - Is Immunization the Solution We Need?
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, the focus for booster shots is shifting towards vulnerable populations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States and the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK have announced updated recommendations for the autumn 2025 booster programme.
In the US, adults aged 65 and older are recommended to receive two booster doses per year to enhance protection against serious illness, while adults of all ages are advised to benefit from at least one booster dose annually. For the UK, the eligibility for the autumn 2025 booster programme has been narrowed to adults aged 75 years and over, residents in care homes for older adults, and immunosuppressed individuals aged 6 months and older.
The CDC has reported a rise in COVID-19 cases in 27 states, including Texas, Illinois, Kentucky, Virginia, and Ohio. Despite this, the number of cases is still drastically lower than those this time last year, and weekly hospitalization rates have remained low, suggesting that the new variant may not be leading to severe illness.
The current dominant variant in the US, N.B.1.8.1, has been nicknamed "razor blade throat," as there have been anecdotal reports of some people getting painful sore throats. However, if there is a summer surge of cases, it is expected to be a small one, according to infectious disease researcher Andy Pekosz.
Regarding updated vaccines, Moderna’s SPIKEVAX (mRNA COVID-19 vaccine) continues to be approved for use in young children at high risk, including children 6 months to 23 months of age and 2 through 11 years with underlying conditions. The detailed timing of general availability of newly updated vaccines for the 2025 season is still pending official advisory committee announcements, but current evidence supports ongoing booster availability, particularly for older adults and vulnerable groups during the 2025-26 COVID season.
For healthy adults and children, it may be possible to wait longer before getting another COVID-19 shot, according to Dr. Levy. However, high-risk individuals may consider getting an additional COVID-19 shot when the updated vaccines are distributed in the fall.
The amount of positive COVID-19 tests at NYU Langone has decreased 40% since February, indicating a decrease in the spread of the virus. If you are in an eligible group, it is advisable to plan on getting your booster roughly six months after your last dose to maintain optimal protection against severe COVID-19 outcomes.
The CDC's vaccine advisory committee is expected to provide updated recommendations in the coming months. The exact timing and details of the autumn 2025 vaccination campaigns will be confirmed by the CDC and UK health agencies soon.
In the context of the autumn 2025 booster programme and vaccination campaigns, adults aged 65 and older in the US and adults aged 75 years and over in the UK are recommended to receive annual booster doses, emphasizing the importance of science and health-and-wellness for vulnerable populations, particularly those with medical-conditions. As the CDC continues to monitor the current COVID-19 variants, updates on vaccine recommendations for healthy adults and children may suggest extended wait periods between shots, while high-risk individuals may be advised to get additional doses during vaccination campaigns.
