Risk of Covid death almost zero for people who are boosted and treated, White House Covid czar says

People who enactment up to day connected their vaccines and person treatments erstwhile they person breakthrough infections look astir nary hazard of dying from Covid-19, a apical wellness authoritative said connected Tuesday.

Dr. Ashish Jha, caput of the White House Covid task force, said the U.S. has made large strides successful warring Covid since the aboriginal days of the pandemic erstwhile thousands of radical were dying regular from the virus.

"If you are up to day with your vaccines and if you get treated if you person a breakthrough infection, your hazard of dying from Covid is present adjacent to zero," Jha told reporters astatine the White House.

More than 300 radical are inactive dying each time from Covid connected average, according to information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Jha told reporters past week that 70% of the radical dying from the microorganism are 75 and older and don't person the latest shots oregon aren't getting treated arsenic needed. He said this level of decease is unacceptable fixed each the tools the U.S. present has astatine its disposal to negociate the virus.

Jha encouraged radical who person Covid symptoms to get tested truthful they tin get diagnosed and person treatments specified arsenic the antiviral pill Paxlovid erstwhile needed.

"Treatments which we person disposable contiguous for escaped support radical retired of the hospital, support radical retired of the ICU, forestall the worst result astatine all," Jha said.

People older than 50 and those who are different astatine elevated risk, specified arsenic radical with anemic immune systems oregon superior aesculapian conditions, should beryllium earnestly considered for treatments, helium said.

The U.S. rolled retired caller booster shots that people the ascendant omicron BA.5 subvariant successful September. Although there's nary real-world information connected their effectiveness yet, Jha said they should supply a overmuch higher grade of extortion based connected what scientists cognize astir however the quality immune strategy works.

Health officials are expecting Covid infections to summation successful November done January arsenic they person each autumn and wintertime since the pandemic began, Jha said. But it's hard to foretell whether the U.S. volition look different large Covid surge due to the fact that the microorganism continues to evolve, helium added.

"We are not helpless against these challenges. What happens successful the weeks and months up volition person a ample interaction connected however the wintertime goes and truly what happens this wintertime is mostly up to america arsenic the American people," Jha said connected Tuesday.

He called connected everyone ages 12 and older to get their caller Covid booster changeable by Halloween truthful they person extortion successful clip for Thanksgiving erstwhile the vacation play gets into afloat swing. Everyone who is eligible should spell retired and get their yearly flu changeable arsenic good due to the fact that wellness officials are expecting a important flu play for the archetypal clip since the pandemic began, helium said.

One caveat is radical who precocious caught Covid tin hold 3 months to get their booster due to the fact that corruption besides boosts your immunity, Jha said.

"Don't hold — get your caller flu changeable and your caller Covid changeable today," Jha said. "If Americans did that we could prevention hundreds of lives each time this winter."