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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has backed the Food and Drug Administration’s decision to authorize COVID-19 booster shots for all adults. MICHAEL HELLER
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has backed the Food and Drug Administration’s decision to authorize COVID-19 booster shots for all adults.
CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky’s recommendation was announced Friday, November 19, just hours after the FDA and a vaccine advisory committee voted unanimously to expand Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine boosters to everyone 18 and older.
“After critical scientific evaluation, today’s unanimous decision carefully considered the current state of the pandemic, the latest vaccine effectiveness data over time and review of safety data from people who have already received a COVID-19 primary vaccine series and boosters,” Walensky said. “Booster shots have demonstrated the ability to safely increase people’s protection against infection and severe outcomes, and are an important public health tool to strengthen our defenses against the virus as we enter the winter holidays. Based on the compelling evidence, all adults over 18 should now have equitable access to a COVID-19 booster dose.”
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted in support of a change to COVID-19 vaccination policy that says people 50 and older should get a booster if they had a primary immunization with an mRNA vaccine — Moderna or Pfizer — at least six months prior. The recommendation also applies to people 18 and older in long-term care settings. The panel also backs a policy that recommends people at least 18 years old and younger than 50 receive a booster based on individual risks and benefits.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said Friday that with 80 percent of adults in the state fully vaccinated, getting a booster is another important layer of safety, but still encouraged frequent hand-washing and wearing a mask.
“This is great news as we enter the holiday season and gather indoors with friends and family,” the governor said. “We know the recent increase in the spread of COVID across regions of the state is happening due to lower vaccination rates in those areas. Getting more New Yorkers vaccinated, including children aged 5 and older, remains the best way to help turn the tide in our fight against COVID-19.”
Up until Friday, November 19, there have been 7,475 coronavirus cases reported in the Town of Southampton, 4,542 in the Town of Riverhead, and 2,222 in the Town of East Hampton.
As of Saturday, there have been a total 871 of COVID-19 cases reported in Flanders, 251 in Eastport, 208 in Remsenburg-Speonk, 506 in Westhampton, 227 in Westhampton Beach Village, 100 in Quogue Village, 558 in East Quogue, 98 in Quiogue, 2,050 in Hampton Bays, 497 in North Sea, 242 in Shinnecock Hills, 28 on Shinnecock Territory, 467 in Southampton Village, 227 in Water Mill, 302 in Noyack, 33 in Sagaponack, 162 in Sag Harbor Village, 173 in Bridgehampton, 496 in East Hampton North, 116 in East Hampton Village, 662 in Springs, 57 in Amagansett and 253 in Montauk.
The number of cases has slowly been on the rise since a sharp decline occurred countywide back in June. There was a small dip from the highest report of 790 cases on September 15 — the most daily since 929 on April 7 — but Suffolk saw the biggest increase in 2020 around the holiday season, with over 2,000 cases reported daily from December 30 to January 13 of this year.
Since the start of November there have been 21 positive cases reported in Flanders, four in Eastport, eight in Remsenburg-Speonk, six in Westhampton, 10 in Westhampton Beach Village, two in Quogue Village, 31 in East Quogue, two in Quiogue, 78 in Hampton Bays, 22 in North Sea, five in Shinnecock Hills, four on Shinnecock Territory, 18 in Southampton Village, 16 in Water Mill, 19 in Noyack, four in Sagaponack, seven in Sag Harbor Village, six in Bridgehampton, 16 in East Hampton North, four in East Hampton Village, 11 in Springs, three in Amagansett and three in Montauk.
The CDC continues to encourage the 47 million adults who are not yet vaccinated to get vaccinated as soon as possible to protect themselves, their families, loved ones and communities. Anyone can find available vaccines near them at vaccines.gov and can consult their health care provider or local pharmacist if they have questions about vaccines or boosters.
