Covid cases double in a month, but should you get the booster jab? Here's what experts are saying

As Covid-19 continues to spread, people are getting worried about whether or not we should be wearing masks.New variants have emerged over the last few weeks, including Eris and Pirola. Schools are closing in America while Covid-19 cases in England have almost doubled in a month, reports The Independent.

Many are keen to get vaccinated against Covid-19, as memories of the pandemic are still fresh in their minds. However, experts are now saying that we should hold off for a few weeks before getting our booster vaccinations.

Why are experts telling us to wait?

According to Mail Online, doctors in America are urging people to delay their vaccinations. The reason being that the new variants are highly-mutated and could therefore be better at getting past the immunity provided by the current vaccine.

Vaccine manufacturers like Moderna are therefore updating their shots to make them more effective in battling off all strains of Covid-19.Mail Online reports that the new boosters, which have been created based on sub variants of the omicron variant, have shown to provide significant antibodies against the circulating strains. They should be available in mid-to-late-September.

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Are you at risk if you delay your vaccination?

Dr Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the pandemic centre at Brown University School of Public Health, suggests that ‘waiting a few weeks to get the updated shot should be okay’. The doctor told ABC News that the only people who shouldn’t wait are those who are in a high-risk category or environment, where they are likely to be exposed to strains of the coronavirus.

Read more:New study reveals people most at risk of catching COVID even after vaccination, are you one of them?

What about the flu jab?

The new boosters should come out around the same time people usually get their flu jab. Indeed, Christina Pagel, a member of the Independent Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, has stated her concerns about infection rates rising as temperatures drop:

Without ramping up surveillance, and in the face of waning immunity, we are travelling into winter more vulnerable and with blinkers on.

We’ve already discussed the cost difference between the flu and Covid vaccines, but what about the safety of taking them at the same time?

Dr Thomas Moore, an infectious disease physician, told the Daily Mail that there is no problem combining the jabs. There are hopes this will encourage people to make a trip to the doctor as Covid cases increase in both the UK and the US. As reported by The Independent:

According to the most recent government statistics available, 875 cases were logged in England on August 11, compared to just 449 a month earlier. Hospital admissions have also risen by a fifth in a week.

Read more:

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Sources used:

Mail Online: Why doctors are urging patients NOT to get their Covid booster vaccines yet

The Independent: Covid cases double in a month as scientists warn about spread of new variants

CNN:Kentucky school districts cancel classes less than 2 weeks into school year due to Covid-19, viruses and strep outbreaks