MORGANTOWN – Gov. Jim Justice on Thursday celebrated the CDC following the lead of the FDA decision earlier this week to allow second COVID boosters for certain people.
The CDC joined the FDA to authorize a second booster dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for people age 50 and up who are at least four months past their prior dose of any authorized vaccine. People age 12 and up who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may receive a second booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine – that is, a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine – at least four months after the first booster dose
The CDC also authorized adults who received a primary vaccine and booster dose of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine at least four months ago to receive a second booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
The CDC commented, “During the recent Omicron surge, those who were boosted were 21 times less likely to die from COVID-19 compared to those who were unvaccinated, and seven times less likely to be hospitalized.”
In West Virginia, active cases held steady from Tuesday’s briefing at 376, with hospitalizations dipping slightly to 148, with 42 in ICUs and 18 on ventilators – the ventilator number unchanged from Tuesday.
Justice read off 41 deaths – bringing the total to 6,835 – but 25 of those were reconciliations of prior deaths not yet in the state system, so new deaths since Tuesday were only 16.
“I do believe we’re still really moving in the right direction,” he said.
COVID- 19 czar Dr. Clay Marsh answered a question about BA.2 omicron symptoms.
Delta symptoms included loss of smell and taste and respiratory problems, he said. Omicron symptoms are much milder, with sore throats, sinus congestion and headaches, often mistaken for a common cold. In South Africa, 40% of those with omicron – either BA.1 or BA.2 – were asymptomatic.
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