Do you need to get a COVID-19 vaccine every year?

ORLANDO, Fla. New cases of the British variant of the COVID-19 virus are being reported in the country.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 611 total cases of the COVID-19 variant in the United States, with Florida leading the way with 187 cases.

At least 16 cases of the British variant have been reported in Central Florida.

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News 6 sat down with Dr. Jarod Fox, a doctor on infectious diseases at Orlando Health to ask him a variety of questions about COVID-19 and the new variants.

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Lauren Cervantes: Will people have to be vaccinated for this every year, like the flu shot, or will it be something where you get the initial vaccine and then get a booster every few years?

Dr. Jarod Fox said they do not know the answer to this question. He said most of the vaccine candidates are shooting for a number of variants, but adds that it may not be necessary. Businesses work ahead and produce the boosters as needed, according to Dr. Fox. He said most vaccines are currently effective against the variants offered.

Lauren Cervantes: Are younger people more susceptible to the new variants of the virus?

At the moment, dr. Fox said they do not believe one population is more susceptible than another.

Lauren Cervantes: Are the vaccines currently available effective against all of these variants?

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Dr Fox told News 6 that both Moderna and Pfizer have done studies and that their vaccinations are still effective against the variants. That said, he said they are less effective against the South African variant than they are the British variant.

Lauren Cervantes: Can the virus mutate to the point where the COVID-19 vaccines are no longer effective?

According to Fox, this will be the biggest problem. He said we are not close to that point yet. He said there is always a chance if we do not get the infections under control.