New Covid Shots Recommended for Americans 6 Months and Older This Fall

All Americans ages 6 months and older should receive one of the new Covid-19 vaccines when they become available this fall, according to scientific advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This recommendation comes amid a summer wave of Covid, with infections rising in at least 39 states and territories. The vaccines provide an incremental boost to existing layers of immunity acquired by most Americans from repeat infections or previous vaccine doses. The vaccines are effective for only a few months as immunity wanes and the virus continues to evolve. Data shows that a vast majority of Americans hospitalized for Covid did not receive one of the shots offered last fall.