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As Georgia experiences a rise in COVID-19 cases amid summer gatherings and indoor activities to beat the heat, public health officials are urging Americans to prioritize an updated COVID-19 vaccination regimen for the upcoming fall season.

The advisory committee on vaccines at the Atlanta-based U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all individuals above the age of six months receive the new dose to ensure updated protection.

"This is particularly important for those who are over 65. Those folks still continue to be at the highest risk of getting very sick, needing to go to the hospital or potentially losing their life to this virus," stated CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen in an interview with WABE.

"Plan for the fall when you're getting your updated flu shot to also get that updated COVID-19 shot."

Nationwide, emergency room visits have surged by more than 23% in the past week due to the summer wave of COVID-19 infections. Although hospitalization rates are lower than previous peaks, ongoing mutations in the virus pose ongoing challenges.

The latest Omicron variants KP.2, KP.3, and LB.1 are now predominant strains across the United States, with projections from the CDC indicating that KP.3 alone accounts for over one-third of new COVID-19 cases.

Vaccination continues to demonstrate effectiveness in preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and mortality.

Dr. Cohen, who assumed the role of CDC director a year ago, has focused on transitioning the agency beyond the emergency phase of the pandemic. She highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance data collection, genomic sequencing capabilities, and innovations in treatment and vaccines to prepare for future health crises.

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia recently visited the CDC headquarters to advocate for increased federal funding to support the agency's research into various public health threats, including mosquito-borne diseases, maternal mortality, and COVID-19.

"We saw with COVID, with a host of other infectious diseases, that what happens 'over there' can quickly make its way over here," Warnock remarked. "As a senator representing the state of Georgia, I'm proud that the CDC located right here in our state is engaged in staving off these global health threats before they become a threat to the homeland."