ORLANDO, Fla. — Although COVID-19 cases are currently low, nearly 2,300 people have died in Florida this year from a virus that refuses to disappear fully.

That has health-care experts reminding Floridians again that it’s time for another booster shot of vaccines designed to prevent serious illness and death.

The biggest risk is for people ages 65 and up. They account for 91% of Florida’s COVID-19 deaths.

During initial vaccine rollouts, elderly people were highly vaccinated. Now only 43% of U.S. residents over 65 are up to date on their shots, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This has led experts to urge this group especially to get immunized.

It’s good to take advantage of relatively low COVID-19 transmission and get the shot now because vaccines take about two weeks to become fully effective, said Jill Roberts, associate professor at USF Health.

“There are less hospitalizations, less deaths, less everything right now,” Roberts said. “I suspect, though, at some point a new variant will come around and it will change all that.”

During the week of March 30, Florida recorded 652 new COVID-19 hospital admissions compared with 15,577 in a single week during the virus’ peak in August 2021.

The CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get at least one dose of the current COVID vaccine. Children 6 months to 4 years old need multiple doses, and people immunocompromised or over 65 should get an additional booster after four months.

The newest vaccines were approved on Sept. 12, so anyone who got a COVID-19 shot before then is due for another one. The CDC reports about 16% of Florida adults are up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccines, compared with 23% nationally.

Roberts said even if you don’t fall into a group at higher risk of death, COVID-19 can still have dramatic effects.

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