CDC Director Mandy Cohen informed Congress this week that the updated coronavirus vaccine has not been administered to enough Americans. The number of reported coronavirus cases has increased, leading to a third consecutive week of hospitalizations. Reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that 19,400 new COVID-19 patients were hospitalized last week. While these figures are only a fraction of the earlier spikes seen in the pandemic, they indicate a concerning trend as the country approaches winter.

The Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions are experiencing a rapid increase in COVID-19 patients, according to the CDC’s Friday report. Federal health officials are closely monitoring the high volume of COVID-19 patients and anticipate further increases due to holiday gatherings and travel.

The low vaccination rates for COVID-19 vaccinations are worrisome, with only 16% of Americans having received a dose of the updated vaccine, according to CDC Director Mandy Cohen. Expressing disappointment in this statistic, Cohen highlighted the need for increased vaccination efforts.

On Friday, the CDC reported that they are monitoring an increase in respiratory illness, particularly in children. This situation mirrors observations made in China. National vaccination coverage for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV vaccines has not shown satisfactory progress, increasing only by 1 percent for both children and adults, according to the CDC.

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