The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved multiple safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for use in the U.S. by anybody six months and older. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone six months and older receive a primary series of one or two vaccine doses (depending on the vaccine administered). The CDC also recommends that everyone five years and older receives a booster dose of either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, preferably at least five months after the primary series. The CDC additionally recommends that adults ages 50 and older receive a second booster at least four months after their first booster.

In August 2022, the FDA authorized authorized new vaccine bivalent formulations that are more effective against the dominant strains of the virus that causes COVID-19, namely the BA.4 and BA.5 sublineages of the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2. Individuals twelve years and older are eligible for a booster dose of the bivalent vaccine two months after they have completed primary vaccination or received their most recent booster dose.

COVID-19 vaccination has been shown to be highly effective at preventing severe illness and death from COVID-19. Vaccination also limits the spread of the illness, decreasing the probability that new variants will develop and prolong the pandemic’s devastation. The federal government is providing vaccination for free to anyone in the U.S. that is six months or older. You can find the vaccination site closest to you at vaccines.gov.

IEDC strongly supports COVID-19 vaccination among all eligible individuals. IEDC's staff is 100% vaccinated against COVID-19 and IEDC requires COVID-19 vaccination of attendees at its conferences. In August 2021, former IEDC president and CEO Jeffrey Finkle wrote an op-ed for InsideSources.com detailing the importance of COVID-19 vaccination to economic development.

The FDA has approved certain antivirals and antibody treatments for individuals with COVID-19. Among these approved treatments is Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, sold under the brand name Paxlovid, which has received Emergency Use Authorization by the FDA. Paxlovid is approved for emergency use in adults and children 12 and older with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who are at an elevated risk of progression to severe COVID-19. Healthcare providers can prescribe Paxlovid, which the patient takes orally at home. Paxlovid consists of two pills that are taken twice daily for five days.

Federal Resources for Increasing Vaccine Uptake:

The CDC has released a set of 12 recommendations for community organizations in the U.S. to increase vaccine uptake and confidence in their communities and workplaces. These include:

• Medical Provider Vaccine Standardization: Medical providers should offer COVID-19 vaccination by default to all individuals they treat. Studies on HPV and flu vaccination confirm that standardization effectively increases vaccine uptake.
• Workplace Vaccination: Workplaces should hold company-wide vaccination events to offer employees the opportunity to get vaccinated at work. This is helpful in setting a norm that all employees should be vaccinated. It also offers vaccination to employees who do not have time to leave work for a vaccination appointment.
• Vaccine Requirements: Many universities, hospitals, and some businesses require their employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. During recent surges of COVID-19, some restaurants, movie theaters, and bars have required patrons to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
• Effective Messages Delivered by Trusted Messengers: Trusted members of the community should strongly and publicly recommend that everyone get vaccinated. Studies have confirmed that this communication strategy effectively counters mistrust of vaccines among certain individuals.