Washington - By October 27, over 15 million people in the United States, comprising approximately 4.5% of the population, had received the updated COVID-19 vaccinations, according to a spokesperson from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). However, this number lags behind last year's vaccination campaign.
Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that nearly 23 million people had received updated booster shots as of October 26 last year. Notably, the 2022 fall vaccination campaign began around ten days earlier than this year's.
The HHS spokesperson stated in an email, "As of October 27, more than 15 million Americans have received the updated COVID-19 vaccine, and over 19 million vaccines have been distributed to pharmacies and other locations. Furthermore, 91% of Americans aged 12 and older reside within a 5-mile radius of a vaccination site."
The updated vaccines from Pfizer and BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax are designed to target the XBB.1.5 Omicron subvariant of the coronavirus. This subvariant was dominant in the U.S. for a significant part of the year but has since been surpassed by other variants as the virus continues to evolve.
The rollout of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines gained momentum after the CDC's recommendation on September 12. Last year, the rollout of the updated vaccines targeting two virus variants began about ten days earlier, with approximately 23 million Americans having received at least one dose by October 26.
U.S. public health officials have expressed optimism that Americans will embrace the new vaccines, treating them as they would an annual flu shot. However, demand for COVID vaccines has substantially declined since 2021 when they were initially introduced.
Around 56.5 million people, constituting 17% of the U.S. population, received last year's version of the vaccines.
Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that nearly 23 million people had received updated booster shots as of October 26 last year. Notably, the 2022 fall vaccination campaign began around ten days earlier than this year's.
The HHS spokesperson stated in an email, "As of October 27, more than 15 million Americans have received the updated COVID-19 vaccine, and over 19 million vaccines have been distributed to pharmacies and other locations. Furthermore, 91% of Americans aged 12 and older reside within a 5-mile radius of a vaccination site."
The updated vaccines from Pfizer and BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax are designed to target the XBB.1.5 Omicron subvariant of the coronavirus. This subvariant was dominant in the U.S. for a significant part of the year but has since been surpassed by other variants as the virus continues to evolve.
The rollout of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines gained momentum after the CDC's recommendation on September 12. Last year, the rollout of the updated vaccines targeting two virus variants began about ten days earlier, with approximately 23 million Americans having received at least one dose by October 26.
U.S. public health officials have expressed optimism that Americans will embrace the new vaccines, treating them as they would an annual flu shot. However, demand for COVID vaccines has substantially declined since 2021 when they were initially introduced.
Around 56.5 million people, constituting 17% of the U.S. population, received last year's version of the vaccines.
