The Pandemic Might Be Over (But COVID Is Not): The Omicron Booster Show

On Sunday September 18, 2022, in an interview on 60 Minutes President Joseph R. Biden declared "the pandemic is over." While some experts (mainly epidemiologists and infectious disease specialists) would disagree with the President's assessment, it's kind of hard to say he is flat out wrong. We are in a very different place as the rates of COVID had been falling for weeks before recently plateauing along with hospitalizations and deaths from the illness. Things have certainly gotten better. But the fact remains that SARS-CoV-2 is still out there, and if the pattern for the last two years holds up, we'll be seeing surges of cases this Fall and Winter season. Thus, on Health In Harlem this week, we have a cozy chat about the bivalent vaccines/boosters that will be paramount in preventing severe illness and death as well as decreasing the economic and social burden of the disease. While you listen in, check out the resources below to learn more about recent COVID guidelines, vaccine information, and a vaccine eligibility tool! Enjoy and as always, Harlem, take care of yourself."     Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: CDC Streamlines COVID-19 Guidance to help the public better protect themselves and understand their risk https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/p0811-covid-guidance.html Centers for Disease Control and prevention: The Update on “Up to Date” https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-data/covidview/index.html Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: COVID Vaccine Eligibility Tool https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html#when-you-can-get-booster