Getting a booster is a great way to protect yourself.

We’re at the start of a new Covid wave.

Several key measurements — including wastewater data, test positivity and emergency room visits — indicate a new rise in infections.

Cases are increasing or probably increasing in 45 states, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

It’s getting harder to know how bad waves will be, since everyone has different immunity levels. But with new restrictions to Covid vaccines, I’m worried more people will get very sick.

“If you’re vaccinated against Covid-19, you’re less likely to get infected,” said Andrew Pekosz, a virologist at Johns Hopkins University. “But we haven’t gotten a lot of people vaccinated for the past few years, and with the current recommendations changing, it’s even less likely.”

–Covid cases rising in US as officials plan to restrict booster vaccines, The Guardian

Health officials softened the recommendation for children on Covid vaccines, and they removed the suggestion entirely for pregnant people.

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This fall, the boosters may be limited to older people and those with health conditions, FDA officials wrote in May.

“So it’s a big question mark, going into the fall, is who it’s going to be approved for,” said Sam Scarpino, a professor of health sciences at Northeastern University. “If it’s not approved, can you still pay out of pocket for it? How much is it going to cost? And then are there going to be supply chain issues?”

–Covid cases rising in US as officials plan to restrict booster vaccines, The Guardian

I reported on Saturday how young children may not have access to any Covid vaccines, if the FDA doesn’t renew Pfizer’s emergency use authorization.

That reporting was confirmed by other outlets like the New York Times and CNBC.

For adults, antivirals like Paxlovid could also see wider use.

A program to make Paxlovid more affordable to those who need it is slated to end in December, though it’s been renewed in the past.

“The benefits of antiviral treatment are very clear with respect to hospitalization and mortality decreases,” Pekosz said.

Paxlovid is still highly effective against current variants, Scarpino said. “There’s a whole bunch of good reasons to get it.”

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Top image: CDC