PEOPLE. THURSDAY, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS APPROVED TO UPDATED COVID-19 VACCINES FROM PFIZER AND MODERNA AS COVID CASES ARE CONTINUING TO RISE NATIONALLY WHO13'S. LINDSEY BURRELL JOINS US IN STUDIO WITH MORE ABOUT THE NEW SHOTS. LINDSAY? HEY, ERIN. YEAH, THE FDA SAYS THAT THESE NEW UPDATED VACCINES COULD SOON BE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE. AND IT COMES AT A TIME WHERE ACCORDING TO THE CDC COVID CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS. >> ARE ON THE RISE. SO JUST LIKE YOUR YEARLY FLU SHOT COVID-19 VACCINATIONS ARE BEING TREATED. SIMILARLY WHERE VACCINES ARE BEING UPDATED TO PROTECT INDIVIDUALS AGAINST THE CURRENT STRAINS OF COVID THAT ARE GOING AROUND. THESE NEW SHOTS ARE DESIGNED TO TARGET THE KP TO STRAIN, WHICH IS A DESCENDANT OF THE HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS JM. ONE VARIANT THAT WHEN AROUND LAST WINTER, BUT NEW SHOTS CAN LEAD TO HESITANCY AS ONLY 22.5% OF ADULTS GOT LAST YEAR'S UPDATED COVID VACCINE. THE HEALTHCARE OFFICIALS SAY THAT THESE UPDATES ARE KEY TO HELP PEOPLE COMBAT NEW STRAINS OF THE VIRUS AND MITIGATE SYMPTOMS. IF YOU DO GET SICK. >> WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD ROBUST DATABASE OF INFORMATION ABOUT HOW SAFE COVID VACCINES ARE IN GENERAL. SO CHANGING. THAT STRAIN IS NOT LIKELY TO CAUSE ADDITIONAL ISSUES. AGAIN, JUST LIKE GETTING TEACHERS, FLU VACCINE THAT HAS A DIFFERENT STRAIN OF FLU. AND THAT IS NOT LIKELY THAT THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT THE SAFETY PROFILE OF THE VACCINE. SO I DON'T THINK THERE'S A LOT OF REASON WHY PEOPLE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT SAFETY ISSUES. AND IN FACT, AS WE SEE EACH YEAR AS THE SEASONAL VACCINE COMES OUT, THESE VACCINES ARE EXTREMELY SAFE. >> DR BREWSTER SAID FOR THOSE LOOKING TO GET THIS UPDATED BOOSTER, IT MAY TAKE SOME TIME TO ACTUALLY REACH YOUR PHARMACY OR CLINIC. SO MAKE SURE TO CALL AHEAD AND TO ENSURE