Medical experts are saying that the worst of COVID-19 may be over. Even though transmission is up again in the United States, the severity seems to be lower.
The good news, too, is that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports about 60 percent of eligible people living in the U.S. have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. About 47 percent have been administered at least one booster shot.
Another plus for this lessening of COVID cases and their severity is that federal authorities in June authorized a COVID-19 vaccine for children as young as six months. However, polling data has indicated that only about 18 percent of parents said they would vaccinate their younger children. As of June 29, the American Academy of Pediatrics reported that only 29 percent of children ages 5-11 years had received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open in recent weeks found vaccines may have prevented about 235,000 COVID-related deaths among people older than 18 from December 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021.
Some medical experts expect another increase in COVID-19 cases in the fall, with schools resuming again.
Experts say there have been no signs of a new variant, which is encouraging, as the variants that followed the original virus caused uptakes in cases. Many medical experts stated that the worst of COVID seems to be over.
However, do not be lulled into a complacency since our hygiene measures need to be continued as far as hand washing and protecting oneself as much as possible, even wearing a mask if that makes you feel more comfortable.