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Omicron Variant: What You Need to Know 

Vaccines remain the best public health measure to protect people from COVID-19, slow transmission, and reduce the likelihood of new variants emerging.

Scientists are currently investigating Omicron, including how protected fully vaccinated people will be against infection, hospitalization, and death.

Masks offer protection against all variants. CDC continues to recommend wearing a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high community transmission, regardless of vaccination status.

COVID-19 Booster Shots

The recent emergence of the Omicron variant further emphasizes the importance of vaccination, boosters, and prevention efforts needed to protect against COVID-19.

If you need help scheduling your booster shot, contact the location that set up your previous appointment. If you need to get your booster shot in a location different from where you received your previous shot, there are several ways you can find a vaccine provider.

Bring your CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record card to your booster shot appointment so your provider can fill in the information about your booster dose. If you did not receive a card at your first appointment, contact the vaccination site where you got your first shot or your state health department to find out how you can get a card.

You may experience side effects after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. These are normal signs that your body is building protection against COVID-19.

Self-Testing for COVID-19

Self-testing is one of several risk-reduction strategies to reduce the chances of COVID-19 transmission. They may be used regardless of vaccination or symptom status.

Consider using a self-test before joining indoor gatherings with others who are not in your household.

Self-tests can be used at home or anywhere, are easy to use, and produce rapid results. If your self-test has a positive result, stay home or isolate for 10 days, wear a mask if you have contact with others, and call your healthcare provider.

COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review

COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths have all increased in recent weeks, with many parts of the country experiencing substantial or high levels of community transmission. As people travel and gather this holiday season, take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones. We know COVID-19 vaccines & boosters, masking, and physical distancing work to prevent COVID-19 spread. 

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the U.S.

December 20, 2021

US states, territories, and District of Columbia have reported 50,791,012 cases of COVID-19 in the United States.

CDC provides updated U.S. case information online daily.

In addition to cases, deaths, and laboratory testing, CDC’s COVID Data Tracker now has a Vaccinations tab to track distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in your state.

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Omicron Variant

On November 26, 2021, the World Health Organization classified a new COVID-19 variant as a variant of concern and named it Omicron. As of December 4, 2021, Omicron has been identified in the United States and is reported now in more than 20 countries.

CDC has been actively monitoring and preparing for this variant and continues to work diligently with other U.S. and global public health and industry partners to learn more.

The virus that causes COVID-19 is constantly changing, and new variants of the virus are expected to occur. Sometimes new variants emerge and disappear. Other times, new variants persist.

The recent emergence of the Omicron variant further emphasizes the importance of vaccination, boosters, and general prevention strategies needed to protect against COVID-19. Everyone 5 and older should get vaccinated and boosters are recommended for everyone 18 years and older.

International Travel

If you plan to travel internationally, you will need to get a COVID-19 viral test (regardless of vaccination status or citizenship) no more than 1 day before you travel by air into the United States. You must show your negative result to the airline before you board your flight.

As we learn more about the Omicron variant, this new one-day testing policy will help to protect travelers and the health and safety of American communities from COVID-19.

CDC continues to recommend that all travelers get a COVID-19 viral test 3-5 days after arrival, and that unvaccinated travelers should quarantine for 7 days after travel.

Do NOT travel if:

• You have been exposed to COVID-19, unless you are fully vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days.
• You are sick.
• You tested positive for COVID-19 and haven’t ended isolation (even if you are fully vaccinated).
• You are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test.

Key Things to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines

Everyone 5 years and older is eligible to get a free COVID-19 vaccination.

Everyone ages 18 years and older who is fully vaccinated should get a booster shot.

COVID-19 vaccines are effective at helping protect against severe disease and death from the virus that causes COVID-19.

The benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the known and potential risks, which are rare.

People who are fully vaccinated can resume many activities they did before the pandemic. However, people should wear a mask indoors in public if they are in an area of substantial or high transmission.

COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review

People who are pregnant or were recently pregnant are at increased risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19, including ICU admission, being on a ventilator, death, and stillbirth. However, COVID-19 vaccination among pregnant people in the United States remains low. CDC recommends people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or who might become pregnant in the future get vaccinated against COVID-19. 

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the U.S.

December 6, 2021

US states, territories, and District of Columbia have reported 49,002,475 cases of COVID-19 in the United States.

CDC provides updated U.S. case information online daily.

In addition to cases, deaths, and laboratory testing, CDC’s COVID Data Tracker now has a Vaccinations tab to track distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in your state.

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Who is Eligible for a COVID-19 Booster Shot

Certain people are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster shot, including those who received Moderna and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccines. Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots.

For individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at 6 months or more after their initial series:

• 65 years and older
• Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings
• Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions
• Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings

For the nearly 15 million people who got the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are also recommended for those who are 18 and older and who were vaccinated two or more months ago.

Additional populations may be recommended to receive a booster shot as more data become available. 

Holiday Celebrations

There are several ways to enjoy holiday traditions and protect your health. Because many generations tend to gather to celebrate holidays, the best way to minimize COVID-19 risk and keep your family and friends safer is to get vaccinated if you’re eligible.

Safer holiday tips include:

• Wear a mask in public indoor settings if you are not fully vaccinated, have a weakened immune system, or if you are in an area with substantial to high transmission.
• Avoid crowded, poorly ventilated spaces.
• If you are sick or have symptoms, don’t host or attend gatherings.
• Delay travel until you are fully vaccinated. If you are considering traveling for a holiday or event, visit CDC’s Travel page to help you decide what is best for you and your family.
• Get tested if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have a close contact with someone who has COVID-19.

COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Teens

Getting a COVID-19 vaccination can help protect your child from getting COVID-19. They can also help keep your child from getting seriously sick even if they do get COVID-19.

COVID-19 vaccines have been used under the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history, which includes studies in adolescents.

Children and adolescents receive the same dosage of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine as adults and will need a second shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine 3 weeks after their first shot.

Help protect your whole family by getting yourself and your children 12 years and older vaccinated against COVID-19. To find a COVID-19 vaccine: Search vaccines.gov, text your ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find locations near you.

How to Use the COVID Data Tracker

Watch this new video to learn more about COVID Data Tracker, CDC’s home for COVID-19 data, including cases and deaths, hospitalizations, variants, vaccination progress, and more. COVID Data Tracker combines county, state, national, and global data from across the COVID-19 response in a series of interactive dashboards in one easy-to-use location.

Anyone can use COVID Data Tracker to follow COVID-19 pandemic trends and to access data on COVID-19 in your community.

COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review

Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 helps protect people from getting sick or severely ill from COVID-19. New data show that COVID-19-associated hospitalization rates were higher in unvaccinated people compared with fully vaccinated people. Additionally, people who were unvaccinated had a greater risk of dying from COVID-19 than fully vaccinated people. People who are unvaccinated remain the most vulnerable to COVID-19. 

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the U.S.

October 25, 2021

US states, territories, and District of Columbia have reported 45,363,116 cases of COVID-19 in the United States.

CDC provides updated U.S. case information online daily.

In addition to cases, deaths, and laboratory testing, CDC’s COVID Data Tracker now has a Vaccinations tab to track distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in your state.

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V-safe Health Checker

COVID-19 vaccine safety continues to be a top priority at CDC. V-safe is a smartphone-based tool that helps monitor vaccine safety by allowing users to report how they’re feeling after vaccination. Participants can register in v-safe after receiving any dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and it is available in five languages: English, Korean, simplified Chinese, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review

Weekly hospitalization rates from COVID-19 have recently increased for children ages 11 years and younger. Hospitalization rates among children and adolescents are at their highest levels since the start of the pandemic. These increases come as many schools across the country have returned to in-person learning. Masks are important for reducing the spread of COVID-19 among children in K–12 school settings. To keep kids safe, CDC recommends masks for all students, teachers, and staff while indoors, along with COVID-19 vaccination and testing, and physical distancing. 

Getting Your CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card

At your first vaccination appointment, you should get a CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record card that tells you what COVID-19 vaccine you received, the date you received it, and where you received it. Keep your CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record card for future use. Consider taking a picture of your card after your vaccination appointment as a backup copy. If you did not receive a CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record card at your first appointment, contact the vaccination provider site where you got your first shot or your state health department to find out how you can get a card. 

COVID-19 Vaccines While Pregnant or Breastfeeding

COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all people 12 years and older, including people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future. Evidence about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy has been growing. These data suggest that the benefits of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine outweigh any known or potential risks of vaccination during pregnancy. There is currently no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause fertility problems in women or men. Pregnant and recently pregnant people are more likely to get severely ill with COVID-19 compared with non-pregnant people. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine can protect you from severe illness from COVID-19. 

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the U.S.

October 12, 2021

US states, territories, and District of Columbia have reported 44,401,209 cases of COVID-19 in the United States.

CDC provides updated U.S. case information online daily.

In addition to cases, deaths, and laboratory testing, CDC’s COVID Data Tracker now has a Vaccinations tab to track distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in your state.

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Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shot

CDC recommends that people in the following groups should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 Vaccine at least 6 months after completion of their 2-dose Pfizer series:

• People ages 65 years and older
• Adults 18+ living in long-term care settings
• People ages 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions

People who may receive a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine booster include:

• People ages 18–49 with an underlying medical condition
• People ages 18–64 who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission due to working or residing in certain settings

People can talk to their healthcare provider about whether getting a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster shot is appropriate for them.

Getting Your COVID-19 Vaccine

Vaccines are now widely available. In many cases, you do not need an appointment.

The federal government is providing the vaccine free of charge to all people living in the United States, regardless of their immigration or health insurance status.

Around 90% of people in the United States live within 5 miles of a COVID-19 vaccine location.

You should get a vaccination card that tells you what COVID-19 vaccine you received, the date you received it, and where you received it. Keep your vaccination card in case you need it for future use. Consider taking a picture of your vaccination card as a backup copy. 

Accessing a COVID-19 Vaccine If You Are Homebound

If you are homebound and need to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, contact your healthcare provider or your state or local health department. In many states, you may also dial 211 to connect to essential community services.

If you are not able to arrange a COVID-19 vaccination through your healthcare provider or through your state or local health department, try contacting groups that are advocates for people who are homebound:

The Aging Network at 1-800-677-1116

Search for services by ZIP code with the Eldercare Locator

Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) at 1-888-677-1199

Hotline for Medicare recipients at 1-800-633-4227 (TTY 1-877-486-2048)

You may also try contacting private home health services, personal aides, or organizations such as Meals on Wheels. Sometimes these groups can advocate for you or inform you about the services available in your area.

COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review

Weekly hospitalization rates from COVID-19 have recently increased for children ages 11 years and younger. Hospitalization rates among children and adolescents are at their highest levels since the start of the pandemic. These increases come as many schools across the country have returned to in-person learning. Masks are important for reducing the spread of COVID-19 among children in K–12 school settings. To keep kids safe, CDC recommends masks for all students, teachers, and staff while indoors, along with COVID-19 vaccination and testing, and physical distancing. Read more in the COVID Data Tracker. 

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the U.S.

September 27, 2021

US states, territories, and District of Columbia have reported 42,850,746 cases of COVID-19 in the United States.

CDC provides updated U.S. case information online daily.

In addition to cases, deaths, and laboratory testing, CDC’s COVID Data Tracker now has a Vaccinations tab to track distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in your state.