What's happened
The FDA has approved updated COVID-19 vaccines targeting new variants, with availability expected soon. The government will also relaunch its free COVID-19 home testing program in late September, as cases rise ahead of the respiratory virus season. Health officials emphasize the importance of vaccination and testing.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Independent, the FDA approved new COVID-19 vaccines designed to target the latest Omicron variants, with availability expected soon. The CDC recommends these vaccines for all individuals aged six months and older. Meanwhile, Ars Technica highlights that only a small percentage of Americans have received the previous vaccine, despite COVID-19 being deadlier than the flu. The Independent also reports that the government will relaunch its free COVID-19 testing program, allowing households to order tests ahead of the holiday season. This initiative aims to help families stay safe as respiratory virus season approaches. Axios emphasizes the importance of vaccination and testing, noting that health officials are urging all Americans to get vaccinated against respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, flu, and RSV.
How we got here
The FDA's recent approval of updated COVID-19 vaccines comes amid a surge in cases across the U.S. The new vaccines are designed to combat the latest Omicron variants, with the CDC recommending them for all individuals aged six months and older.
More on these topics
-
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. It was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China.