"Rising 'Eris' Variant Spurs New Covid Vaccines and Booster Decisions"

A new COVID vaccine, specifically targeting the Omicron variant, is set to be released next month in the United States. However, health experts and analysts anticipate a lukewarm response due to declining demand for vaccines and skepticism about their effectiveness. The decline in concern about the virus, as well as fatigue and the belief that previous shots or infections provide sufficient protection, contribute to vaccine hesitancy. COVID-19 vaccine makers have lowered their expectations for this year's vaccination campaign, with Pfizer and Moderna projecting significantly lower demand compared to last year. Public health officials will need to make a compelling case to the American public about the ongoing risk of COVID-19 to encourage widespread vaccination.