Gov.
Kathy Hochul announced during a briefing Tuesday that any adult in New York who
feels at risk can now get a COVID-19 booster shot – but what does “at risk”
really mean?
It's a
subjective answer. The governor said most of the state is in a
high-transmission area, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
The Food and Drug Administration is also said to be planning to authorize booster shots of the Pfizer vaccine for all adults as early as Thursday, according to the New York Times.
Her
booster expansion goes above and beyond the CDC, which currently recommends
boosters for:
- 18 and
older with an underlying health condition
- Any
adult at a high risk of exposure
- Adults
who got a Johnson & Johnson shot
The
expanded eligibility comes as COVID-19 positive cases are on the rise. In the
Mid-Hudson region, the positivity rate is up to 2.7% - 50% higher than
it was two weeks ago.
Hochul
said she's extremely concerned about what COVID-19 numbers might look like
after Thanksgiving if more people, including children, don't get vaccinated.
"We're
heading into a vulnerable time. I want to make sure that we protect our kids in
schools, keep our children safe, make sure you're safe in the workplace, and
safe when we gather for Thanksgiving," she said.
Breakthrough
infections are up nearly 10% from last week, though that number is just above
1%. Health experts say this is because more people are spending time indoors
and their immunity is waning over time since their last dose.