Covid update: Officials consider additional Covid-19 boosters for at-risk adults

U.S. health officials have not yet followed in Britain and Canada’s footsteps by recommending another round of Covid-10 booster shots for at-risk individuals in the spring. Yet, older adults and immunocompromised individuals still have a higher risk of severe infection or hospitalization due to Covid-19, according to The New York Times.

Meanwhile, state reports show the community level of the Covid-19 virus has remained low in the Charleston area, and nine people died statewide from Covid in the week ending March 25.

An estimated 300 Covid-19 related deaths still occur daily in the U.S. with the majority of the cases involving adults older than 70 and adults with previously existing medical conditions.

U.S. health officials are currently assessing whether additional Covid-19 boosters are a necessity for these at-risk individuals.

The Census Bureau reported that adults 65 years and older comprise 16% of the U.S. population, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported approximately 7 million citizens have weakened immune systems due to illness and medical treatment.

While the Food and Drug Administration has not authorized another round of Covid boosters, the agency said in January that each fall it will disseminate a Covid-19 shot to the American population, much like how it handles flu virus prevention.

Latest COVID-19 data

State health officials encourage residents to refer to the CDC’s community levels map to track the severity of Covid-19. As of March 28, Charleston County’s community level has remained low in line with the previous reporting period.

For the week ending March 25, Covid-related hospitalizations in Charleston decreased 30.6% in comparison to the week ending March 18. For the week ending March 25, state officials reported nine people died from Covid-19 — four fewer deaths than the previous week. In this period, 2,026 new cases were reported — 134 more than the previous reporting period.

SCDHEC transitioned to weekly reporting of new Covid data in December 2022. The most recent numbers were reported Tuesday and covered March 19-25. In other data: