Opinion: Yes, everyone should get an updated Covid-19 vaccine
Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that everyone in the U.S. 6 months and older receive an updated Covid vaccine targeting the XBB.1.5 variant. Since then, some notable voices, including Paul Offit, have publicly questioned whether the updated vaccine is needed for those who are not in a high-risk group. He recently wrote, “At this point in the pandemic, it is hard to make a case for vaccinating everyone. Let’s focus on those who are most likely to benefit. Otherwise, we run the risk of further confusing and frustrating the American public.”
Of course there is room for reasonable debate on this important topic. But so far these arguments have been light on specific evidence and are themselves prone to causing confusion (at least if my family and friends are any indication). They downplay both the individual and population-level benefits of vaccination and risk undermining the uptake of the updated Covid vaccine among those who need it most.
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