A record number of COVID-19 cases are being recorded in El Paso.
The medical community in El Paso is still asking everyone to get fully vaccinated against the virus and get a booster shot.
Under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendations, people with weakened immune systems could receive a fourth dose of the coronavirus vaccine as early as this week.
The CDC’s guidance applies to anyone 12 and older whose immune system is weaker.
They will be able to get the fourth dose if they’ve received a booster in August 2021.
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But health experts in El Paso said even though the talks about a fourth dose are starting, more El Pasoans still need their booster shot first.
“We’re talking about 4th doses only for those who have weakened immune systems. Right now let’s focus on those third doses. As of this morning, somewhere between 28-30 percent of vaccinated El Pasoans have gotten their third dose. We know that getting boosted by the third dose adds a lot of protection against getting seriously ill from the omicron variant,” said Dr. Edward Michelson with Emergency Medicine, at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center of El Paso.
Michelson said the omicron variant is spreading rapidly in El Paso and those boosted with the third shot needs to be more than 70 percent in the area.
As more people get the booster shot, Michelson does not believe more boosters will be needed.
“I think this will start looking more like flu. We’ll know a whole lot more by February. Before we are done. I think everyone will end up getting omicron. Even those who are vaccinated. Fortunately, those who are vaccinated will stay home with a bad cold and won’t have to see their doctor or come to the hospital. We will all get antibodies from being infected plus being vaccinated” Michelson said.
As health experts start talking about a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, Michelson said the goal is to get the third dose to protect yourself further.
“The third dose will not protect you from getting omicron, it will protect you from getting very sick from omicron,” Michelson said.
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