Here’s why conditions could be ripe for COVID-19 surge later this year – WCVB Boston

Video: Boston doctor explains why conditions could be ripe for COVID-19 surge later this year

Updated: 6:08 PM EDT May 9, 2022

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ANNOUNCER: YOU'RE WATCHING WCVB NEWSCENTER 5T A 5:30. ERIA: A NEW REPORT TODAY WARNS, THE U.S. COULD FACE 100 MILLION NEW COVID INFECTIONS THIS FALL AND WINTER. HERE TO SWANER YOUR QUESTIONS IS DR. SANDRA NELSON, AN ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR WITHIN THE DIVISION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES AT MASS GENERAL HOSPITAL. BEN: WE'VE HEARD MANY TIMES, THE ONLY THING PREDICTABLE AUTBO THIS VIRUS IS THAT IT'S UNPREDICTABLE. SO HOW MUCH FAITH DO YOU HAVE IN THIS NEW FEDALER FORECAST? >> THERARE E SEVERAL MODELS THAT ARE PREDICTING THAT WE MAY SEE A SURGE INHE T FALL OR WINTER. THE MAGNITUDE OR THE SEVERITY OF THAT SURGE IS REALLY WHAT WE DOTN' UNDERSTAND. WHAT I THINK THE MODELS ARE TELLING US THE CONDITISON ARE REALLY RIPE FOR A LATE FALL EARLY WINTER SURGE. WE'LL BE SEEING LOSS OF PROTECTION. YOU STILL HAVE HIGHLY TRANSMISSIBLE VARIANTS THAT ARE CIRCULATING. WE RELAXED OUR MITIGATION SOMEWHAT. ALL OF THOSE THINGS FAVOR A FALL WINTER SURGE. ERIKA: THE ONLY STRAINS CIRCULATING RIGHT NOW ARE OFF-SHOOTS OF THE OMICRON VARIANT. DOES THIS FORECAST SUGGEST THAT WE'LL SEE A BRAND NEW VARIANT THIS FL?AL >> I THINK AS YOU ALRDYEA MENTIONED ANYTHING IS REAYLL POSSIBLE. MOST OF THE MODELS ARE PREDICTING THAT WE ARE STILL GOING TO BE SEEGIN VARIANTS OR SOME VARIANTS WITHIN THE OMIONCR FAMILY. NEW VARIANTS DO OCCUR AT ANY TIME AND THEY BECOME PREDOMINANT IF THEY BECOME MORE TRANSMISSIBLE. ALL OF THESE ARE POSSIBLE. IT'S NOT WITHOUT THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY THAT WE'LL SEE A DIFFERENT VARIANT IN THE FUTURE. BEN: LET'S TALK ABOUT IMMUNITY. RIGHT NOW, MANY OF US HAVE BEEN VACCINATED OR INFECTED, OR BO.TH SO DO YOU THKIN WE MAY HAVE GENERATED ENOUGH ANTIBODIES TO AT LEAST HAVE SOME PROTECONTI THROUGH THE FALL, AND MAYBE EVEN THE WINTER T?OO >> WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE A HIGH LEVEL OF ANTIBODY PROTECTION. WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS TWO FACTORS THATRE A AT PLAY THAT I THINK WE STILL EDNE TO BE CAME. ANTIBODY LEVELS DO WANE. THAT DO LEAD TO LOSS OF PROTECTION AGAINST INFECTION WHILE STILL PROTECTION AGASTIN THE SEVERE MANIFESTATION OF THE DISEASE. OTHER THING WE'RE WATCHING IS THE EXPERIENCE OUTF O SOUTH AFRICA. WHICH HAD AN EARLY OMICRON WAY BACK IN THE LATE FALL EARLY WINTER WITH ONE OFHE T SUBVARIANTS OF OMICRON, BA1, THEY ARE NOW SEEING A SECOND OMICRON WAVE WITH A DIFFERENT VARIANT. WHAT WE DON'T KNOW WELL IS HOW WELL INFECTION IN OUR EXISTING ANTIBODIES MAY PROTECTS U AGAINST FUTURE VARIANTS OF OMIC

Video: Boston doctor explains why conditions could be ripe for COVID-19 surge later this year

Updated: 6:08 PM EDT May 9, 2022

The Biden administration warns that the U.S. could face 100 million new COVID-19 infections this fall and winter.

The Biden administration warns that the U.S. could face 100 million new COVID-19 infections this fall and winter.

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Here's why conditions could be ripe for COVID-19 surge later this year - WCVB Boston