As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations creep up during a summer wave of heightened virus activity, updated vaccines are still likely weeks away.
Why it matters:
- Americans have largely tuned out COVID, but the latest COVID uptick is a reminder that the virus continues to circulate and mutate — though the threat is far below pandemic-era levels.
- Health officials face a challenge convincing a pandemic-fatigued public to get an updated COVID shot, as vaccine uptake has declined with each successive booster.
The vaccine absolutely does protect you from infecting others. It reduces your risk of getting the illness, so if you’re not sick you’re not a disease vector. It reduces your viral load, so when you’re ill you shed less virus, so you’re less likely to infect to other people. It reduces the length of time you’re sick, so there’s a smaller window when you can infect people.
The vaccine absolutely does protect you from infecting others.