Local public health officials are urging individuals who've put off their COVID-19 vaccine booster to stop procrastinating.

With the emergence of the highly-transmissible omicron variant and holiday gatherings now over, Clay County Public Health coordinator Colette Rossiter is expecting COVID-19 infections to rise in northwest Iowa. She said vaccinated people should schedule their booster shot if they haven't received it yet to improve their odds at avoiding serious illness or death if they catch the virus.

"One comment we hear often is that people who have received COVID-19 vaccinations ca...