New COVID vaccines have been approved but rollout remains slow, with few if any pharmacies in Concord having them available Tuesday.

The SARS-CoV2 virus that causes COVID appears to be widespread in New Hampshire, as it is in much of the country. Tests of wastewater from sewage plants throughout the state have led the Centers for Disease Control to list New Hampshire as having levels of viral activity at the highest category, more than in any adjacent state.

Recent virus data is not posted from Concord’s two treatment plants but plants in the eastern, southern and western portions of the state have all reported high or very high levels in the past week. The situation is similar in Boston’s wastewater system, although levels there remain much lower than a spike that occurred in January.

Earlier this month the FDA approved updated mRNACOVID vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer that are designed to protect against COVID variants that have been spreading since spring, contributing to a summer surge in cases. Officials expect that annual COVID vaccines targeting new variants of the virus will become standard practice, just as is done now with influenza vaccines.

These 2024-2025 vaccines are recommended for everybody over the age of 6 months, particularly seniors or people with compromised immune systems. 

However, production of the vaccine is still ramping up. Calls to some Concord area pharmacies Tuesday did not find any where the shots were available or could be scheduled, although that situation could change at any time.

Nationally, the rate of hospitalization and deaths due to COVID have trended upward in July and August but remain much lower than levels seen in past summer surges. For example, more than 2,000 people died of COVID in July nationally, compared to at least 25,700 COVID deaths in July 2020.