COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review: Interpretive Summary for March 17, 2023

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Spring into Action
• Corporate Authors:
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
• Description:
  Spring into Action
  
  As we mark three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, cases, deaths, and hospitalizations have all been decreasing steadily. Much of the U.S. population has some form of immunity, either through vaccination or previous infection. In addition, CDC’s 2023 Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule now includes COVID-19 primary vaccine series and links to the latest guidance on booster dose vaccination in all populations.
  
  Recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines for kids can be confusing. The pediatric vaccines and boosters were introduced by age group, and there are slightly different recommendations by manufacturer and for children who are immunocompromised. Children of different ages in the same family might not have the same COVID-19 vaccine schedules. The new guidance will make it easier to figure out if your kids are up to date or when they should get their next shot.
  
  Regular checkups with a pediatrician provide the opportunity to prevent, screen for, and manage chronic conditions, and to get routine vaccinations for your kids, including COVID-19 vaccines. Your pediatrician can explain guidance and help make sure that your child is up to date with all vaccines. So put “make a pediatrician appointment” on top of your spring to-do list.
  
  Note to Readers: COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review will publish its final issues on March 31, April 14, and May 12. Please visit CDC’s COVID Data Tracker for COVID-19 data, CDC’s Respiratory Virus Hospitalization Surveillance Network (RESP-NET) for data on respiratory virus-associated hospitalizations, and CDC’s National Emergency Department Visits for COVID-19, Influenza, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus dashboard for data on emergency department patient visits with diagnosed COVID-19, influenza, and RSV.
  
  It’s time to pick out your costume and get ready to celebrate Halloween! Over the past two-plus years, we’ve learned new ways to enjoy pandemic holidays, and “outside is always safer” has been the mantra for these holiday gatherings. Luckily, that’s easy to do on Halloween, because trick-or-treating generally involves plenty of outdoor time. But that doesn’t mean it’s totally risk-free. Here are some more tips for staying COVID-safe this Halloween.
  
  • Stay home if you’re sick. Skip the Halloween party if you aren’t feeling well.
  
  • Get tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms.
  
  • Take precautions in crowded or indoor events as informed by your county’s COVID-19 Community Level, like wearing a high-quality mask (and Halloween masks don’t count). Consider making the mask part of the costume—like a doctor, nurse, ninja, or cowboy.
  
  • If you’re hosting celebrations, review options for improving ventilation in your home. This can help you reduce virus particles in your home and keep COVID-19 from spreading.
  
  • Keep your hands clean. If you’re out trick-or-treating, bring hand sanitizer. If you’re giving out candy, wash your hands frequently.
  
  And of course, the best way to protect yourself and others from severe illness from COVID-19 on Halloween (and every day) is to stay up to date on your COVID-19 vaccinations! Use this tool to find out when you can get a booster.
  
  Note to Readers: On October 12, 2022, CDC recommended updated (bivalent) COVID-19 boosters for children ages 5 years and older in the United States, making the updated boosters available to millions of children in this age group.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Child Communicable Disease Control Coronavirus Infections/prevention & Control COVID-19 COVID-19 Vaccines Infant Local Government Pandemics Public Health Public Health Practice Vaccination

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• Series:
  CDC COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review
• Document Type:
  Text
• Collection(s):
  Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:8a2b19bfedcca97e73cb646537563f8e473c78205cf38eed1f698e20a9b16664c774f0a12720e56c1987a0de4d24bb0b9187ffb9275ad60977d4ec53a7b644d0
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/125795/cdc_125795_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.72 MB ]