What to Know About the New COVID-19 Booster Shots Planned for Next Month_我的网站
A | 这个夏天，一群来自大山深处的少年，因为足球，来到南京。
Coronavirus is on the rise in the U.S., prompting questions about when Americans can roll up their sleeves for the next COVID-19 vaccine.
COVID-19 hospitalizations have been increasing for six straight weeks. While levels remain far below previous coronavirus waves in the U.S., it’s still the first increase since winter, and it has even prompted the return of mask mandates for a handful of businesses and schools.
The Biden administration estimates that 97% of Americans ages 16 and over have some level of COVID-19 immunity through vaccination, previous infection or both. The number may sound promising – so why do people need another round of shots? Because that protection can fade in a matter of months, leaving individuals vulnerable to COVID-19 once again.
“Immunity is stronger today than at any other point in the outbreak,” Mandy Cohen, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a recent video statement. “That means we're moving towards COVID-19 being a more manageable illness with less severe illness. Having antibodies is like a shield, but we still need to be cautious because that protection does decrease over time.”
When Will the Shots Be Available?
Rollout of the shots is expected in mid-September, according to officials with the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration.
The shots from Moderna, Pfizer and Novavax first need authorization from the FDA. After that, the CDC’s committee of outside vaccine experts will gather to recommend who should be eligible for the shots. That meeting is scheduled for Sept. 12. Then, the CDC director must sign off on the recommendations before shots can be administered.
For undervaccinated or unvaccinated Americans – especially those who are at high risk for severe disease – Cohen says it might be best for them to roll up their sleeves now for the shots that are currently available.
“Those who have never been vaccinated and then some people who are older and at higher risk for a COVID infection might be best to get the existing COVID shot now and not wait,” Cohen said, noting that individuals should talk to their doctor first.
But Cohen added that “if you do get the current COVID-19 vaccine now or in early September, it could delay your ability to get this updated vaccine that's coming out in the middle of September.”
Will the Updated Boosters Work on New Coronavirus Variants?
The updated shots target XBB.1.5, which was responsible for less than 5% of new coronavirus infections in recent weeks.
The variant scene has changed significantly since the Biden administration advised vaccine makers to target the XBB strain in June. Now, EG.5, or “eris,” is the dominant strain circulating, causing over 20% of new cases.
But all the strains circulating are still descendants of omicron, so experts believe the shots will still protect against severe COVID-19 from the variants.
A Biden administration official told reporters last week, “FDA expects that once available, the updated vaccines will similarly provide protection against the most serious outcomes of the disease that may result from currently circulating variants.”
Additionally, experts are keeping a close eye on how BA.2.86, a new strain that is highly mutated, could affect the shots.
“The CDC is closely tracking a new variant which does have a number of changes or mutations that do make it distinct and different from the older versions of the virus,” Cohen said. “So we're working as fast as we can to understand this new variant and what impact it might have on how severe the COVID disease will get or how well our vaccines work against it.”
Will the New COVID-19 Shot Be Free?
Most Americans will receive the shot cost-free through their insurance. For uninsured Americans, the Biden administration is working on a program that will offer free shots at pharmacies. That program might not be available on the same day the shots are authorized but is expected to be up and running within a couple of weeks of the date.
Uninsured Americans will have immediate access to the shots for free at community health centers and individual providers as soon as they roll out.
How Many People Will Get a Booster Shot?
Historically, vaccine uptake decreases each time a new coronavirus shot is offered.
Just 17% of Americans as of May rolled up their sleeves for the latest round of shots offered. That’s a steep drop from the first shot, which saw 81% of the population roll up their sleeves.
But there are reasons to be hopeful that uptake of the shots could be higher this time around. A survey from KFF found that more than half of adults said they are likely to get another COVID-19 booster shot if it’s offered annually like the flu shot.
B | 同时，南京体彩还面向社会招募爱心家庭参与公益活动，让更多普通市民加入其中。孩子们成为公益义卖的小小“推广员”，家长和志愿者一起参与，义卖所得善款全部用于“乡村少年追风计划”。从体彩工作人员，到爱心家庭，再到现场每一位关注公益的人，越来越多的人因为这群追风少年走到了一起。
C | 对孩子们来说，公益不再只是一个抽象的词语。它变成了一次远行、一场比赛、一件运动装备。体彩让梦想照进现实，让梦想生出了翅膀，带孩子们看见比远方更远的光。这正是体彩希望传递的意义：让公益不止于“给予”，更成为陪伴成长的一种力量。一场苏超赛事，让山里的少年看见山外今年夏天，“苏超”再次点燃了足球热情。南京体彩也将公益行动融入这场全民参与的足球盛事。在南京队主场迎战扬州队的比赛现场，来自远方的少年带着乐小星走进南京奥体中心，在数万人的欢呼声中感受足球的魅力。
D | 他们站在曾经只能从电视和网络里看到的赛场，看球员在绿茵场上奔跑。
E | 今天，他们看见一座城市因为足球而沸腾。一场足球赛，因此有了另一层意义。它不仅是比分与胜负，也是一次关于爱与梦想的接力。如果说过去的公益更多是在为孩子们改善校园环境，那么今天，公益开始走进他们的兴趣、热爱与梦想。南京体彩的参与，也让“公益+体育”的结合有了更加具体的落点。对于乡村少年而言，一块足球场，也许就是他们认识世界最早的窗口之一。南京体彩的参与正是让这样的窗口能够开得更大一些。让孩子们有机会走出校园、走进赛场、认识同龄人，也让他们知道，无论来自哪里，热爱都值得被看见，梦想都值得被鼓励。旅程结束，但体彩公益不会六天的夏令营结束了。
F | 少年们终将回到自己的家乡，回到熟悉的山路、校园和球场。但有些东西已经悄悄发生了改变。他们见过了更大的城市，站上过万人球场，也认识了来自远方的新朋友。更重要的是，他们知道，在山的另一边，有一群陌生的人关注他们，为他们的梦想鼓掌，也愿意为他们的奔跑添一把力。这或许就是公益最动人的地方。
G | 在过去的3年中，南京体彩联合新华报业传媒集团《水滴公益》栏目，通过“乡村校园改造计划”公益项目帮助西部乡村学校改造校园硬件设施。
H | 正是这样的一个个具体行动，让“公益”从数字变成故事，从善意变成陪伴，让一张张体育彩票汇聚的公益力量，抵达更多需要被看见的人。这个夏天，追风少年们曾经在南京奔跑。而属于他们的追风之旅，还在继续。
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