An uncharacteristically simple rule from the agency: If you’ve had the first two shots, you’re up to date if you’re not yet eligible for the booster and not up to date if you are.
But what about those of us who may have gotten, say, seven shots out of an abundance of caution? Which category is that?
Hypothetically speaking, of course.
Biden’s CDC Director says the definition of fully vaccinated is being changed to include the booster, and “fully vaccinated” will now be called “up to date.”pic.twitter.com/WgLKU80Gms
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) January 21, 2022
Does this semantic nonsense achieve anything meaningful? They could have just kept “fully vaccinated” and applied the same definition as above, that you’re not fully vaxxed unless you’ve received every dose you’re eligible for. Given a choice between two bad options, confusing people with the “up to date” switcheroo or pissing them off by moving the goalposts on “fully vaccinated” status, it appears the CDC decided confusion was the lesser evil.
Imagine people who’ve had two doses presenting their proof of vaccination in vaccine-passport jurisdictions and finding out they missed the cut. “But I’m fully vaccinated!” “Maybe so, pal. But you’re not up to date.”
If you want to know why the CDC is making this change today, the answer probably lies in the fact that they just got the data from two new studies confirming that boosters provide a stellar defense against serious illness and want to call the public’s attention to them. Against Delta, a third dose provided 94 percent protection against trips to the ER or hospitalization. Against Omicron, it did nearly as well:
NEW: Today’s @CDCMMWR study found that during periods of both #DeltaVariant and #OmicronVariant, a 3rd dose was highly effective at preventing #COVID19 associated emergency department visits, urgent care visits & hospitalizations. https://t.co/X8chSXviW7 pic.twitter.com/OMtvSgZU1J
— Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH (@CDCDirector) January 21, 2022
That adds to a body of studies all showing strong immunity from severe illness for those who are fully “up to date”:
Now there are 3 reports for vaccine effectiveness vs Omicron hospitalization, @UKHSA, @KPSCalResearch and today’s @CDCMMWR. They are quite consistent for marked protection of the 3rd shot (booster). My summary table here pic.twitter.com/2hE0jH8fO5
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) January 21, 2022
A separate study found that people who were boosted had five times as much protection against *infection* by Omicron than the unvaccinated did, making the third dose especially important for those who live with vulnerable people:
Another @CDCMMWR study out today found that when the #OmicronVariant was first circulating in the United States, adults who got a #COVID19 booster dose had 5x the protection against infection compared with adults who were not vaccinated. https://t.co/EXj2fbrpBM pic.twitter.com/pXPAGMQino
— Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH (@CDCDirector) January 21, 2022
Authored by Allahpundit via HotAir.com
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