As we begin to plan for the endemic phase  of the COVID-19 pandemic, more data is being released about the efficacy and usage of the COVID-19 vaccine. In Virginia the number of vaccinated individuals is steadily rising. According to Our World in Data, approximately 63 percent of Virginia residents are fully vaccinated. This translates to about 5.4 million Virginia residents fully vaccinated. The current national percentage of fully vaccinated people is about 58 percent, putting Virginia just a bit ahead of national standards. 

   After Nov. 2, the number of people vaccinated will likely increase due to the Center for Disease Control’s official approval of the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 5 to 12. Studies have shown that there was nearly a 91 percent efficacy rate of the vaccine for the selected age group. The main difference between the administration of the vaccine for a child versus an adult is the vaccination dosage. Studies show that a smaller dose was safer and more effective for children than the traditional larger doses used for adults. It should be noted that currently only the Pfizer vaccine has been approved for children; Johnson & Johnson and Moderna studies have yet to be submitted.

   Outside of the expansion to children, booster shot administration has also begun among adults. With the efficacy of the vaccine waning, companies began to look into booster shots for high risk individuals. “High Risk” individuals include people over the age of 65, people with lots of exposure to the virus at work, and people with medical conditions that increase  their risk of severe illness. The booster shot for these populations has been approved for all three vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and J&J). 

   With the continued expansion of the COVID-19 vaccine, we can hope that life continues to move towards a more “normal” state.