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COVID-19 vaccine could temporarily impact a woman's menstrual cycle length, study says
Dr. Jesus Samaniego is the chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic in Houston, Texas and discusses the results of a recent study that found COVID-19 vaccines could temporarily impact the length of a woman's menstrual cycle. (Credit: FOX 26 Houston/KRIV)
Will U.S. residents need a fourth shot of a COVID-19 vaccine?
With a surge of the omicron variant of the coronavirus subsiding around the country, questions continue to swirl about the future of the pandemic in the United States.
While cases and hospitalizations are down, deaths remain high, exceeding past pandemic peaks.
White House and public health leaders have said that they are cautiously optimistic about current trends and planning for a return to normal. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is currently considering revising its guidance on masking.
RELATED: Queen Elizabeth II tests positive for COVID
To date, data from the agency shows 92.6 million Americans have received a booster shot of a COVID-19 vaccine and 214.6 million are fully vaccinated.
While the Biden administration has called on the U.S. to stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations, health experts continue to worry about impending variants of concern and that booster rates are too low given that the vaccination's efficacy wanes over time – about after four months.
The CDC says COVID-19 vaccine booster shots provide 90% protection against hospitalization.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci told PBS last week that while there is "substantial waning" for symptomatically recognizable disease, for severe disease at four to five months there is still about a 78% overall protection rate against hospitalization.
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Queen Elizabeth II tests positive for COVID; mild symptoms | LiveNOW From FOX
Queen Elizabeth II has tested positive for COVID-19, according to Buckingham Palace. The 95-year-old monarch is experiencing mild, cold-like symptoms, according to the statement that said, "She will continue to receive medical attention and will follow all the appropriate guidelines." The queen has received three doses of the coronavirus vaccine. Both her eldest son Prince Charles and daughter-in-law Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall have also recently contracted COVID-19. Charles has since returned to work.
He said that number is "pretty good," which is why the CDC is instructing those who are immune-comprised to get their fourth shot now – but that those who are in the general population of immunocompetent people are "pretty good" as the CDC works to follow the durability of that protection.
"If it goes down over the next couple of months, then they will modify the recommendation of when and who should get now the fourth shot. But, in general, for the population level, 78% is pretty good. It likely will go down sometime. We don't know for sure. We're hoping it'll hold tight up there," he said. "But, if it does go down, I think you can expect some modification of the recommendation."
RELATED: Which states have lifted mask mandates
Speaking at the White House COVID-19 Response Team briefing, the president's chief medical adviser said that the potential future requirement for "an additional boost or a fourth shot for mRNA or a third shot for J&J is being very carefully monitored in real time. "
"And, recommendations, if needed, will be updated according to the data as it evolves," he pledged.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s Dr. Peter Marks told The New York Times that scientists "simply don’t have enough data to know that it’s a good thing to do."
The best time for an additional shot could come in the fall, he explained to the publication on Thursday.
"Barring any surprises from new variants, maybe the best thing is to think about our booster strategy in conjunction with the influenza vaccine next fall, and get as many people as possible boosted then," he said.
Currently, the CDC recommends booster shots for everyone 12 years and older, five months after getting two doses of the mRNA vaccines or two months after a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Vaccines remain the best way to protect against COVID-19 and everyone five years and older is now eligible to receive a vaccine.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Read more of this story on FOX News.