State officials are urging Vermonters to get vaccinated before winter

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – If you’re dragging your feet to get an updated COVID-19 shot, experts say now is the time.

None of us look forward to that jab and the bad feelings that can follow. But experts say now is the time to overlook the discomfort before it’s too late.

Kinney Drugs pharmacist Steven Simpson has administered countless COVID-19 vaccines this fall.

Most of his patients were elderly.

“The younger generation usually tends to put it off a little bit, put it off. But yeah, now is the time for just about anybody,” Simpson said.

More than four years after the peak of COVID-19, it can be easy to throw out another reminder.

But Simpson says the virus is always changing — and so is the severity.

“The variation, you know, can really change how bad COVID-19 is for certain people… It’s very important to get vaccinated,” Simpson said.

CDC data shows that rates of COVID-19 and resulting emergency department visits are low right now.

However, Vermont Health Surveillance Epidemiologist John Davy says that may not last.

“The CDC is projecting that we’ll see another winter peak, maybe like we saw this summer, or maybe even bigger,” Davy said.

While winter is a few weeks away, Simpson says it takes a little while for your body to build full immunity after the vaccine.

This gives you just a little time to get a boost for safe holiday fun.

“It’s really ideal to make sure you get vaccinated at least a few weeks before when you know you might be meeting with that large group,” Simpson said.

The state recommends that everyone older than six months get the latest COVID-19 vaccine. Simpson says there are plenty of doses to use.