COVID-19 updates: Pfizer vaccine highly effective in children 5-11
About 64.3 million Americans ages 12 and older are completely unvaccinated.
More than 731,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 while over 4.9 million people have died from the disease worldwide, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
Just 66.9% of Americans ages 12 and up are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Latest headlines:
FDA authorizes booster shots for Moderna, J&J vaccines
The FDA authorized booster shots for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines for some populations Wednesday.
Moderna's vaccine can be administered at least six months after the second dose for people ages 65 and up and those ages 18 through 64 who either are at high risk of severe COVID-19 infection or have occupational exposure to the virus, the FDA said.
The J&J booster can be administered at least two months after the single-dose shot to those ages 18 and up, the agency said.
The FDA, which authorized Pfizer's booster dose last month, also said it will allow people to mix booster doses.
-ABC News' Anne Flaherty and Eric Strauss
UK cases could climb as high as 100K per day
In the United Kingdom, cases are up 16% since last week, officials said Wednesday. As winter nears, Health Secretary Sajid Javid warned that infections could go as high as 100,000 per day.
Deaths, however, remain low in the country. Officials are encouraging residents to get booster shots.
-ABC News' Joe Simonetti
Cases on the rise in upper Midwest
Montana and Wyoming are now leading the nation in cases, followed by Idaho, Alaska, North Dakota and West Virginia, according to federal data.
Two states in the upper Midwest are seeing notable upticks in daily infections: Michigan and Minnesota have both seen case averages jump by more than 25% in the last month.
Hospital admissions in the U.S. have dropped by about 10.7% in the last week, according to federal data.
However, thousands of Americans are still dying every week. The daily death average -- 1,250 -- is higher than this time one year ago, before any vaccines were available.
-ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos
States can reserve vaccines for 5 to 11-year-olds beginning Wednesday
Beginning Wednesday, states can start reserving vaccines for kids ages 5 to 11, though vaccines won't start shipping yet.
The government has purchased enough shots for all 28 million children ages 5 to 11 in the U.S.
On Oct. 26, the FDA advisory committee is expected to have a public discussion and have a non-binding vote on the matter. Within days of that vote, the FDA is expected to authorize the vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11.
On Nov. 2 and Nov. 3, a CDC committee is expected to have a public discussion and non-binding vote.
The CDC director is likely to issue a formal recommendation within hours of the expected Nov. 3 vote. Administration of vaccine for 5- to 11-year-olds may begin as soon as the CDC director signs off.
-ABC News' Eric M. Strauss
CDC signs off on Moderna, J&J boosters
Hours after the unanimous vote from its independent advisory committee, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has signed off on recommending booster shots for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines for certain populations.
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky recommended boosters for Pfizer and Moderna recipients with no preference on the brand, leaving that decision up to the individual.
People who are 65 and older, or individuals as young as 18 who have underlying medical conditions or live in high-risk or long-term care settings, are eligible to receive either a Pfizer or Moderna booster at least six months after their second shot, the CDC said.
The one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine is eligible to anyone aged 18 and up, at least two months after their initial dose, the CDC said.
-ABC News' Eric Strauss