CDC Data Shows COVID-19 Cases Near All-Time Low as Agency Recommends New Vaccine Dose

Data provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that COVID-19 cases are near their all-time low, coming as the agency recently signed off its advisory panel’s recommendation that certain people should get a second dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine
The CDC said in its winter outlook that it “expects the fall and winter respiratory disease season will likely have a similar or lower number of combined peak hospitalizations due to COVID-19, influenza, and RSV compared to last season.”
“The recommendation acknowledges the increased risk of severe disease from COVID-19 in older adults and those who are immunocompromised, along with the currently available data on vaccine effectiveness and year-round circulation of COVID-19,” the CDC said, adding that the decision will provide clarity to health care providers on vaccine dosages.
Last week, the CDC separately recommended that people 50 and older get a shot against the pneumococcal bacteria that can cause pneumonia and other illnesses.
Late last month, CDC spokeswoman Rosa Norman told The Epoch Times that the agency is monitoring “the emergence of variants in the population” such as XEC but stressed that “specific cases cannot be associated with specific variants.”
When asked about whether XEC may produce different or more severe symptoms, Norman said the agency isn’t aware of “specific symptoms” that could be linked to XEC.
“At this time, we anticipate that COVID-19 treatments and vaccines will continue to work against all circulating variants,” Norman said. “CDC will continue to monitor the effectiveness of treatment and vaccines against circulating variants. There are other actions you can take to help protect yourself and others from health risks caused by COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses.”