This message includes updates on the COVID-19 response from CDC. This is a rapidly evolving situation and information will be updated as it becomes available.

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May 23, 2022 This message includes updates on the COVID-19 response from CDC. The COVID-19 Outbreak is a rapidly evolving situation and information will be updated as it becomes available.

CDC Strengthens Recommendations and Expands Eligibility for COVID-19 Booster Shots CDC has expanded eligibility of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses to everyone 5 years of age and older, recommending that children ages 5 through 11 years should receive a booster shot 5 months after their initial Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination series. Vaccination with a primary series among this age group has lagged behind other age groups leaving them vulnerable to serious illness. CDC has also strengthened its recommendation that those 12 and older who are immunocompromised and those 50 and older should receive a second booster dose at least 4 months after their first. While older Americans have the highest coverage of any age group of first booster doses, most older Americans received their last dose many months ago, leaving many who are vulnerable without the protection they may need to prevent severe disease, hospitalization, and death.

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6 Things to Know about COVID-19 Vaccination for Children 1. COVID-19 vaccination for children is safe. Ongoing safety monitoring shows that COVID-19 vaccination continues to be safe for children and that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the known and potential risks. 2. Getting vaccinated can help protect children against COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccination continues to protect children against severe disease, including hospitalization. There is no way to tell in advance how children will be affected by COVID-19. Children with underlying medical conditions are more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19. However, healthy children without underlying medical conditions can also experience severe illness. 3. Children may have some side effects after COVID-19 vaccination. Side effects may affect your child’s ability to do daily activities, but they should go away within a few days. Side effects are more common after the second shot. Some children have no side effects. 4. A different dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine is given to children. Children receive a smaller dose of COVID-19 vaccine. COVID-19 vaccine dosage is based on age on the day of vaccination, not by patient weight. This is also true for other routinely recommended vaccines, like hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines. 5. Children who have already had COVID-19 should still get vaccinated. Emerging evidence indicates that people can get added protection by getting vaccinated after they have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. 6. Children can safely receive other vaccines the same day they receive their COVID-19 vaccine. If multiple vaccines are given at a single visit, each injection will be given in a different injection site, according to recommendations by age.

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Getting Your COVID-19 Booster COVID-19 vaccine boosters are an important part of protecting yourself from getting seriously ill or dying from COVID-19. They are recommended for most people. A booster can further enhance or restore protection that might have waned over time after your primary series vaccination. If you need help deciding when or if you (or your child) can get one or more COVID-19 boosters, visit COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters | CDC and use the decision tool. There are different COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised. It is never too late to get the added protection offered by a COVID-19 booster. Find a vaccine provider.

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	COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review Getting vaccinated is the best way to avoid getting seriously sick or dying from COVID-19. If you’ve started vaccination but haven’t stayed up to date, make an appointment today.  Learn More Subscribe

COVID-19 Community Levels CDC uses COVID-19 Community Levels to determine the disease’s impact on counties and recommend prevention measures. CDC also tracks cases, laboratory tests, vaccinations, deaths, and other pandemic data and provides them on our COVID Data Tracker.

Community Levels

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Rd   Atlanta, GA 30329   1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)   TTY: 888-232-6348 Questions or Problems  |  Unsubscribe

This message includes updates on the COVID-19 response from CDC. This is a rapidly evolving situation and information will be updated as it becomes available.

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May 16, 2022 This message includes updates on the COVID-19 response from CDC. The COVID-19 Outbreak is a rapidly evolving situation and information will be updated as it becomes available.

Why Children and Teens Should Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19 Just like adults, children and teens can get very sick from COVID-19. Children may also experience both short- and long-term health problems, and spread COVID-19 to others, including at home and school. There is no way to tell in advance how children or teens will be affected by COVID-19. However, those with underlying medical conditions or who have a weakened immune system are more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19. Those without underlying medical conditions can also experience severe illness. In fact, almost half of children younger than 18 years old hospitalized with COVID-19 have no underlying conditions. Children and teens who have already had COVID-19 should still get vaccinated. Emerging evidence indicates that people can get added protection by getting vaccinated after having been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. So even if a child has had COVID-19, they should still get vaccinated. Read the science about immunity from COVID-19 infection and vaccination.

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Self-testing at Home or Anywhere Self-tests for COVID-19 give rapid results and can be taken anywhere, regardless of your vaccination status or whether or not you have symptoms. When to take a self-test: - If you have any COVID-19 symptoms - test immediately. - If you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 - test at least 5 days after your exposure. If you test negative for COVID-19, consider testing again 1 to 2 days after your first test. - If you are going to an indoor event or a gathering - test immediately before the gathering, or as close to the time of the event as possible. This is especially important before gathering with individuals at risk of severe disease, older adults, those who are immunocompromised, or people who are not up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines, including children who cannot get vaccinated yet. Learn what to do if you test positive or test negative. Order free tests at COVIDtests.gov.  Free tests are also available through local health departments. Buy tests online or in pharmacies and retail stores. Private health insurance may reimburse the cost of purchasing self-tests. Visit FDA’s website for a list of authorized tests.

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	COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review The United States is approaching a tragic milestone: one million lives lost to COVID-19.  Learn More Subscribe

COVID-19 Community Levels CDC uses COVID-19 Community Levels to determine the disease’s impact on counties and recommend prevention measures. CDC also tracks cases, laboratory tests, vaccinations, deaths, and other pandemic data and provides them on our COVID Data Tracker.

Community Levels

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Rd   Atlanta, GA 30329   1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)   TTY: 888-232-6348 Questions or Problems  |  Unsubscribe