COVID-19, General, Guest Bloggers, People Facing Barriers

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy: Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Offers Best Protection

January 5, 2023 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: January 5, 2023

A photo of Vice Admiral Vivek MurthyFor nearly three years now, Americans of every age and from every community have stepped up to help keep themselves, their loved ones, their friends, and their neighbors safe from the COVID-19 virus. Millions reduced exposures, wore masks, and most importantly, got vaccinated and boosted. And because of those extraordinary efforts, our country is thankfully in a new, better place in the fight against COVID-19 – but we can’t let up.

With the arrival of colder weather comes a greater risk of illness because of more respiratory viruses circulating, including COVID-19. These viruses have a disproportionate impact on our seniors: nearly 75% of all COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. are among those 65 and older.

The most important thing we can all do to keep ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities safe this winter is get an updated COVID-19 vaccine right away. 

The updated vaccine targets the Omicron variant as well as the original strain of COVID-19. It has been authorized by the Food and Drug Administration for people ages six months and older. And recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reaffirmed that the updated vaccine makes a big difference in reducing your likelihood of ending up seriously ill from COVID-19.

How big a difference? Early data show that people who received their updated COVID-19 vaccine this year were nearly 19 times less likely to die from COVID-19 compared to people who are not vaccinated at all, and were also less likely to die than those who were vaccinated but had not received an updated COVID-19 vaccine. For seniors, the chance of hospitalization may decrease by 50% or more if you get the updated vaccine – even if you’ve had past doses.

The bottom line is: the updated COVID-19 vaccine offers protection against serious illness, especially for older adults. Even if you do get infected with COVID-19, you are less likely to end up in the hospital or lose your life if you are up to date with your vaccines.

That’s why more than 47 million Americans already got their updated COVID-19 shot as of the new year, including 21 million seniors.

One other measure that can reduce your chances of serious illness if you do get COVID-19 is treatment with medications like Paxlovid.  It’s important to start treatment early, even if you have mild symptoms, so don’t delay in seeking care if you learn you have COVID-19.

These two tools – vaccines and treatments – have already saved millions of lives. They could save your life too and can certainly give you and your family more peace of mind during the winter months.

So make a personal plan for COVID-19 today – one that includes vaccines and treatments.

For more information on how to find a COVID-19 vaccine near you, visit vaccines.gov or call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 888-720-7489) for assistance in English, Spanish, and many other languages. To learn more about treatments for COVID-19, talk to your health care providers or visit covid.gov. And to get up to four free at-home COVID-19 tests, visit COVIDtests.gov.

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About the Author

Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy, M.D., M.B.A. Surgeon General of the United States

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Comments

  1. DJ C.

    With all the misinformation and disinformation coming from the topgov, I absolutely can’t stand the simple thing from the authors like: ” ..even if you do get infected with C19….” NO NO NO you can get infected only with the virus, or countles variants of sars-cov 2, and than you can develop the diseases called COVID-19, or not. Somebody can be infected, but doesn’t have to develop a disease. Like infected with HIV, but don’t have AIDS. Factchechers where are you?

  2. Randy

    CDC has confirmed that vaccine neither prevents infection nor transmission. So maybe a little is worth it it? Or just worry about yourself seems to be all the vax really does, and if you are confident with your medical people and their appropriate education on COVID and the (supposed) vax and are either compromised in your health or aged perhaps a positive consideration is in order.

    • Patricia

      That’s right! Please everyone who reads this blog post, do not get anymore shts. They are harmful. Can’t believe with the research out they are still promoting them.

  3. MajJohn

    It’s unfortunate but many if not most people have a mistrust of the government since they’ve been lied to so many times. So you can publish all the stats you want and they won’t be believed. Such is the success the Chinese have had in influencing our citizens, all without firing a shot. They don’t have to. There are plenty of stooges willing to do their bidding.

  4. Kenneth F.

    My understanding is that the third Covid 19 shot, the booster, was to protect against the Omicron variant. Mine was on September 19th, so I wonder about needing a boost soon in 2023.

  5. Sandy M.

    I have gotten all the vaccines, and at age 76 yrs. I am glad I did, as I got Covid bad with a 102 Temp, and my 73 yr old sister ended up in the hospital for a short 2 days and we are alive. I believe thanks to the vaccine, we are alive as we both are immune compromised. Thanks Moderma.

  6. Fuck y.

    This sellout lol

    • Andrew K.

      So the bivalent booster will target the fast growing new strains…XXB, XBB1.5, BQ1 & BQ1.1? Or just the Wuhan strain, BA.4 & BA.5? I heard the FDA wants to update the boosters…so why get a shot now when I may need a new one very soon? How much EUA mRNA will be in the new shots? Will they be trivalent, quadrivalent, etc.? Where are the virus-blocking vaccine nasal sprays? Where are the antivirals and and antibiotics to stop infection and lung infection for the people? Where are the home test kits to test for Covid/Flu/RSV? Any in the Omnibus?

  7. Fran P.

    I do not plan on any more shots to please the US Gov. I don’t trust them and I don’t think they care about us as much they pretend to. Enough with Faucci, and all the rest. You blew it big time.

  8. Armed P.

    Fauci and Gates…
    Killing nonessential humans on a daily basis through propaganda and poisoned vaccines…

    • Judy

      Show the evidence

    • Christopher L.

      I agree! These jabs are nothing more than the inplementation of the World Economic Forum’s world depopulation. Why would anyone even take the first jab? All producers of these death jabs do not list what is in them and they are not a vaccine at all. They produce self assembling white fiberous materials that clot and kill. Whatch the videos of what the morticians are pulling out of cadavers during the embalming stage. Nothing the medidcal community says is true. COVID-19 was never isolated and there is no way to test for it.

  9. Randall

    I have gotten EVERY Moderna shot offered

    Am I due for another?

    My last Moderna was 10/17/2022

    With my usual Flu Shot

    age 73

  10. Richard E.

    Where is the proof that the covid vax and the boosters actually protects against covid?

    • Roy E.

      Read up the results are there

    • Jim S.

      Read the stats from the experts!

    • Mary P.

      The previous Surgeon General has been sent to Military Tribunal for Crimes Against Humanity for this same stance.

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