The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new vaccine guidelines last week. The recommendations are for people 65 years or older and for people with weak immune systems.
The agency is recommending people in these groups get a second Covid-19 shot during the 2024-2025 year, and the second vaccine should come six months after the first shot.
Sean O’Donnell is the deputy chief health officer in Montgomery County. He told MCM the CDC’s recommendation is consistent with the agency’s guidance from the previous year.
He said receiving a second Covid-19 vaccine during a 12-month period is important because elderly Americans and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to experience waning immunity over time. The second vaccine will provide an extra layer of protection against severe illness for these groups. O’Donnell also pointed out that the added protection also reduces the chance people may suffer the effects of Long Covid, which he said can develop during or following a serious infection.
Fewer People Get Updated Vaccine
While the CDC is recommending two Covid-19 shots for certain groups, health officials admit many Americans are not keeping up to date with the latest vaccines.
The American Medical Association reports only 22.5% of adults and 14% of children received the updated Covid-19 vaccine last year. Yet, at the same time, about 75,000 Americans died from the disease. The virus also resulted in nearly one million hospitalizations.
County Numbers
Last year, about one in four Montgomery County residents received the updated Covid-19 vaccine. About 35% of residents had the flu shot.
“While hospitalizations and deaths associated with Covid-19 continue to decrease compared to the early years of the pandemic, the risk is still higher than that associated with influenza,” O’Donnell said.
As of mid-October, only 8% of Montgomery County residents have received the updated 2024-2025 Covid-19 vaccine.
“While it is still early in the season, and we expect the numbers to rise, we urge our residents to get these shots at least a few weeks before holiday travel and visits begin,” O’Donnell explained.
“Covid-19 continues to mutate and threaten our immune systems with new versions of the virus. Each year, the CDC directs the manufacture of an updated vaccine that will target the latest versions of the virus. So this year’s vaccine is specifically targeting the most recent variants. That helps provide more timely protection than previous vaccines,” O’Donnell added.
Possible Reasons People are Skipping Their Shots
He said some people may be experiencing vaccine fatigue while insurance coverage also is an issue.
“During the pandemic people became accustomed to receiving a free shot anywhere that offered it. As Covid-19 shots transitioned more and more into the private sector, many people have become frustrated trying to find a place that accepted their insurance to provide a shot. We recommend that individuals contact their primary care provider or their insurance companies to clarify if they have coverage, and avoid out of pocket expenses,” O’Donnell said.
DHHS Offers Free Covid-19 Shots
The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services provides free Covid-19 shots for residents without health insurance. Any County resident not eligible for insurance or whose insurance does not cover vaccinations should contact DHHS at 240-777-1050.
The County plans to increase its outreach and education efforts. O’Donnell said people need to know vaccination is important.
“Unfortunately, we continue to see growing disparities in who is getting vaccinated, and not just by age. Last year, white people were twice as likely to get an updated Covid-19 shot as people in our non-Hispanic black population,” O’Donnell said.
The gap is even greater between white and Hispanic people. People who are Asian-American were about two thirds as likely as whites to receive the shot. O’Donnell says he is seeing similar trends this year.
Current State Of Covid-19 in the County
Health officials in Montgomery County saw a spike in Covid-19 during the summer. Currently, the number of cases is low. As of last week, only 11 people were undergoing treatment for Covid-19 at County hospitals.
While Covid-19 remains potentially dangerous, it has dropped from the fourth leading cause of death in the United States in 2022 to the tenth leading cause last year.
The County also saw Covid-19 deaths drop by half between 2022 and 2023. In 2022, 514 people died from the virus. That number fell to 262 people last year.
The County reports 164 Covid-19 deaths so far this year, but O’Donnell remains concerned because the winter season is still to come. He said that is why it is critical that everyone get an updated Covid-19 shot. He said it is especially important for seniors, people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and people with underlying health conditions.
