New data from the CDC shows updated bivalent boosters provide significant additional protection against symptomatic COVID-19 in people who previously received two, three, or four monovalent vaccine doses.
Research also shows people 12 and older who have received a bivalent booster are 15 times less likely to die from COVID-19 than people who have not been vaccinated.
“Vaccinations and boosters are a great way to protect yourself and your loved ones from COVID-19,” said State Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Char, FACEP. “You still have time to get your shots and enjoy the full protection they offer before Christmas and New Year’s, but you’ve got to hurry.”
Here are things you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones during the festive holiday season.
- Get vaccinated and/or boosted.
- Stay home if you are sick, even if you just have a sore throat or runny nose.
- Wear masks indoors when you are with people from outside your household.
- Take a COVID-19 test before large gatherings or visiting people at high-risk of severe illness.
- Gather outdoors or improve ventilation by opening windows and using fans indoors.
- Wash hands frequently.
- Take extra precautions to protect kupuna.
Holiday gatherings contributed to higher COVID-19 case counts in each of the past two years.
The statewide seven-day average increased slightly from 137 new cases a day on November 30 to 182 new cases a day on December 7. It is too early to conclude this increase of 45 cases a day is the beginning of a new surge, but getting a bivalent booster now can help protect you in the event a surge occurs.
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