Corona infection has remained a global health risk for more than four years. Recent reports show that at present the pace of infection is quite controlled across the world. In the past months, the risk of infection had increased in many countries due to Omicron's sub-variant JN.1, although it was controlled in time.
In the last months of 2023, a surge in coronavirus cases was recorded in many states in India, but here too the situation of infection is now under control. Experts say that most of the people around the world have been vaccinated, and herd immunity has been formed in many countries, due to which fewer cases of serious corona disease are being seen.
Meanwhile, a team of experts has advised people aged 65 years and above to take another dose of the Covid vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people 65 and older who have been more than four months since their last vaccination should get another booster dose.
After this report, questions have started being raised about whether any new variant of Corona has arrived, considering the danger of which such advice is being given.
Advice for people aged 65 and over
CDC said in a release, that data received regarding corona show that in case of infection, people 65 years of age or older and those with comorbidities may have a higher risk of developing serious disease. The data obtained demonstrate the importance of receiving a booster vaccine as a preventive measure given the risks in these individuals. An additional dose of the updated Covid vaccine may help boost the body's immune system and protect against the risk of serious disease in case of future infection.
It is noteworthy that serious risk has been seen more in people of this age group.
The risk of serious diseases increases with increasing age.
The CDC report said, in the small wave of Corona that occurred in the last quarter of 2023, more than half of the people required hospitalization, most of whom were people above 60 years of age. Senior citizens have been considered to be the most vulnerable to serious cases of the disease.
In the US, 43% of people aged 75 and older have been vaccinated with the latest vaccine, which may help protect them from serious risks of infection.
What do experts say?
Most COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations last year were among people 65 and older, CDC Director Mandy Cohen said in the news release. Another dose of the vaccine may provide additional protection. There is a decline in the recent figures for Covid-19, but studies have repeatedly cautioned about the possible dangers of new variants. Another dose of the vaccine may further increase your protection.
Has any new variant arrived?
Due to the emphasis being given to administering booster vaccines, this question arises in the minds of people whether any new variant has arrived.
Media reports show that at present, Omicron's JN.1 variant is still the dominant coronavirus variant in most countries, due to which cases of infection had increased in many countries including India in the last months of 2023. There is no information about any new updation or mutation in the variants. However, health experts have been saying that the coronavirus keeps mutating from time to time to survive, hence new variants and their risks cannot be ignored.
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