The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new data showing the effectiveness of the bivalent COVID-19 vaccines released to the public in September.

The CDC’s data suggests that the booster shots reduced coronavirus-related hospitalizations by 57% compared to those who are unvaccinated and by 45% for those with a previous vaccination of the regular COVID-19 shot.

“Bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccines were developed to improve protection against circulating omicron sublineages because of immune escape potentially associated with these subvariants and waning of monovalent vaccine-conferred protection over time,” authors of the CDC’s study wrote. “Real-world data suggest that bivalent boosters provide a modest degree of protection against symptomatic infection among adults compared with receipt of 2, 3, or 4 doses of monovalent vaccines only.”

Following the release of the data, the CDC continues to recommend the public get an updated COVID-19 booster.

“All eligible persons should stay up to date with recommended COVID-19 vaccination, including receiving a bivalent booster dose. In addition, persons should consider taking other precautions to avoid respiratory illness this winter season, including masking in public indoor spaces, especially in areas where COVID-19 community levels are high, to protect themselves and others and reduce strain on the health care system during an ongoing surge in multiple respiratory viruses,” the authors wrote.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends boosters for those ages 5 and up with two previous COVID-19 shots. Some as young as 6 months are also eligible for the shot.

So far, 14.1% of those ages 5 and up have gotten an updated shot, the CDC said.

The U.S. is expanding COVID-19 boosters, opening a third dose of Pfizer's vaccine to people as young as age 16.

The U.S. and many other nations already urge adults to get a booster to pump up their immunity months after initial vaccination.

In the U.S., the Pfizer vaccine is the only option for children and teenagers.

The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday cleared an extra dose for those ages 16 and 17, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rapidly endorsed a booster for those ages.

"Today, CDC is strengthening its booster recommendations and encouraging everyone 16 and older to receive a booster shot," CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a press release. "Although we don’t have all the answers on the Omicron variant, initial data suggests that COVID-19 boosters help broaden and strengthen the protection against Omicron and other variants."

The CDC recommends that the booster be received six months after their second COVID vaccine shot.

It's not clear if younger teens will need one.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WRTV) — The University of Notre Dame announced a COVID-19 booster vaccine will be required for all students who have been fully vaccinated for more than six months.

The requirement includes all undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, including students studying or performing research remotely and/or virtually.

Current students may receive the booster vaccination at any off-campus location or at the University’s on-campus booster vaccination clinic Jan. 11-14.

The Centers for Disease Control has advised all fully vaccinated adults to get the booster shot.

Health officials say most cases in the U.S. are still from the Delta variant. However, the omicron variant has been detected in at least 17 states.

This story was originally reported by Michelle Kaufman on wrtv.com.