Category: Covid-19 Vaccine

It's summer, and RSV and flu have come and gone. But, as ever, COVID-19 is different. Even though the pandemic may be behind us, the virus is once again surging in the U.S.

Here's what to know about the current spike in COVID-19.

COVID-19 seems to be settling into a pattern of two peaks a year: one in the winter and one in the summer. According to the latest data from the end of June, rates of positive COVID-19 tests from labs (which represent only a small fraction of overall cases), increased by nearly 1% from June 23-29. Emergency room visits for COVID-19 jumped 23% during that same time period, and hospitalizations for the disease increased by 13% from June 9-15. Signs of the COVID-19 virus in wastewaterwhich provides among the most accurate, real-time snapshots of caseshave been increasing since May. Just before July 4, four statesFlorida, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utahreported very high levels of the virus in wastewater samples collected from sewage facilities.

The good news is that while the number of cases is climbing, deaths from COVID-19 continue to drop. In the last week of June, deaths from COVID-19 declined by 25%.

The rise in cases is due to a number of factors. First, peoples immunity to the virus is waning; only 22% of people in the U.S. received the most updated vaccine, which became available in the fall. Second, the newest variants are mutating to spread more easily between people. That means more people are likely to get infected.

Read More: The Vaccines You'll Need This Fall and Winter

But so far, the virus does not seem to be causing more severe disease. The latest data on COVID-19 show that it is now starting to settle in and have similar kinds of statistics to influenza, meaning hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and tens of thousands of deaths every year, says Dr. Paul Offit, director of the vaccine education center at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia and a member of the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations vaccine expert committee. And similar to flu, the people most severely affected are the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.

With a virus that mutates as quickly as SARS-CoV-2 does, keeping up with the alphabet-soup names of the newest variants is a daunting task. The latest strains are still from the Omicron family, and KP.2, and KP.3two examples of the circulating FLiRT variants, named for the locations of their particular mutations in the virus' spike proteinare dominating new infections in the U.S. right now. Since June, FLiRT variants have accounted for more than 60% of COVID-19 infections in the U.S. The newest data from WastewaterSCAN found that FLiRT variants account for 55% of the COVID-19 variants found in wastewater samples from across the country, and the concentration of the virus in samples is more than double what it was in June 2023.

For now, it doesnt appear that these mutations are making the virus more dangerous to human health or enabling the virus to cause more severe disease. But health experts are monitoring cases to learn more about these latest changes.

People who have been infected recently have experienced symptoms of fever, coughing, malaise, and even intestinal discomfort. But having more severe symptoms than you may be used to doesn't necessarily mean you've encountered a more virulent strain. Dr. Robert Murphy, professor of infectious diseases at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, says that worse-than-usual bouts with COVID-19 could be due to the fact that their immunity is much lower now than what it was in previous years when more people were more recently vaccinated. The low uptake of the newest vaccine means fewer people have the strongest possible protection against the latest variants. Vaccines gives you better immunity than getting the disease, says Murphy. "Vaccines provide a controlled exposure that gives you a stronger immunologic response than from an infection.

Offit says vaccines are critical for people who are at high risk of developing complications from COVID-19, and staying up to date can protect them from being hospitalized. But its important to set realistic expectations. The goal of the vaccine is to keep you out of the hospital, to keep you out of the intensive care unit, and to keep you out of the morgue, he says. Thats the goalits not to protect you against mild disease.

Read More: A Combined Flu and COVID-19 Shot May Be Coming

The CDCs expert vaccine committee recently recommended an updated COVID-19 vaccine for everyone six months and older for the coming fall and winter season. The shot will be revised to target the KP variant currently circulating, which should improve the shots ability to minimize symptoms and severe COVID-19 disease.

With a more transmissible virus circulating, some people should consider it. If I were in a high-risk group, such as being older or having a high-risk medical condition, and Im in a large group of people I didnt knowlike on an airplaneI think its reasonable to wear a mask, says Murphy. That consideration should also apply to people who are sick. I think anyone who has a respiratory illness should stay at home, says Offit. And if you cant stay at home, you should wear a mask. If youre in a high-risk group, get tested,and if you have COVID-19, take an antiviral [like Paxlovid].

See the article here:

Why Are COVID-19 Cases Spiking Again? - TIME

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests everyone six months and older should get one of the new 2024 versions of the COVID vaccines when they become available this fall.

The new vaccines went to manufacturing this month after receiving federal regulatory approval.

Its important for everyone to understand that this years COVID is different from last years COVID, said Dr. Zach Miller, an infectious disease expert with the Vashon Medical Reserve Corps. The COVID virus constantly mutates, so the vaccine has been adjusted annually to be more effective by targeting the new variants. We know from experience over the last four years that the mutations evolve to evade the immune defenses most of us have built up from previous vaccine doses and repeat COVID infections.

According to the CDC, two new variants, KP.3 and LB.1, account for more than half of new COVID cases nationwide. Those two variants did not exist last year. However, the new variants are descendants of Omicron and the more recent JN.1 variants. The new vaccine targets that variant family, as two CDC expert advisory panels recommended.

You might want to consider the timing of your next vaccination. If you want to get vaccinated now because of the summer surge or other risk factors, do it as soon as possible. Thats because theres some possibility the 2024 vaccine could be available as soon as late August or early September.

If that timing holds, you might need to delay getting the new vaccine because you might need to wait several months between vaccinations to optimize the vaccine benefit. The timing is still being worked out.

Last years updated vaccine had a good track record for preventing serious disease and hospitalization. In addition, the 2023 vaccine prevented just over 50% of symptomatic COVID during the winter respiratory disease season.

Over the next few months, VashonBePrepared will continue to provide information on the availability of the new versions of the COVID vaccines.

CDC: Summer COVID surge underway

The CDC reports that the number of COVID cases has been rising nationwide. COVID cases, according to the CDC, have been increasing in at least 44 of the 50 states.

Theres a lack of Vashon-specific COVID data since the pandemic emergency declaration ended last year. But we have some indicators from Public Health Seattle & King County (PHSKC) showing the expected annual summer surge has begun in our region.

Regional wastewater monitoring for the COVID virus shows sharp increases over the last several weeks, following a gradual rise that began in May. The wastewater data comes from three large King and Snohomish County mainland sewage treatment plants. No wastewater COVID monitoring takes place on Vashon.

Public Health Seattle & King County (PHSKC) tabulation of laboratory tests shows a surge in positive COVID test results that began in May. As with other COVID metrics, the total number of lab tests reported has declined with the end of the pandemic emergency declaration, but the uptick in positive test results shows a clear trend of increased COVID infections.

The percentage of emergency department visits with a COVID diagnosis has also been rising since May. In late June, 2.25% of visits to emergency departments yielded a COVID diagnosis. Thats still below the alert threshold of 3.0% set by PHSKC, but if the current trend continues, the alert threshold will soon be reached.

Protecting yourself and loved ones from COVID

The median age of Vashon residents is around 55, compared to around 35 for mainland King County. That means our island population is at greater risk than the mainland population.

We know from experience over the last four years that older people are at significantly greater risk of serious disease and even hospitalization if they get COVID. Given Vashons older population, it makes sense to continue the basic steps we all learned at the height of the pandemic.

Get vaccinated. The best protection is to get vaccinated. Stay current on COVID-19 vaccinations, especially if youre 50 and older or have a health condition.

Wear a mask in high-risk settings (such as crowded places) to protect yourself and others, especially people with medical conditions who are less able to fight the virus.

Test for COVID if you have symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who tests positive.

If you test positive for COVID, getting treatment early can help stave off severe illness and hospitalization. Thats especially important if you are at higher risk from the disease. Ask your healthcare provider to see if treatment such as Paxlovid is recommended for you.

Keep activities small and outdoors, especially if you suspect that unvaccinated people will be participating.

Good indoor airflow, ventilation, and air filters can reduce airborne virus particles at home or work.

Dont bring COVID home. Even though younger people are less likely to have serious consequences from COVID, they are probably not the only folks in your household. One major way that older people get COVID is from family members who bring the virus home from school, work, camp, or summer travels.

Stage 1 Burn Ban

With dry conditions and high temperatures moving in, a Stage 1 burn ban has been put in place for unincorporated (non-city) areas of King County, including Vashon.

The ban prohibits yard debris fires or fires to clear land. Still permitted: recreational fires and use of gas/propane appliances including grills, pellet smokers and charcoal grills.

Vashon Island Fire & Rescue Chief Matt Vinci urged islanders: It takes our entire community to protect our Island. Please do your part. Adhere to the burn ban and take precautions to prevent wildfires on Vashon.

The Chief added that VIFR firefighters are on the frontlines and ready to respond with enhanced equipment and staffing to protect our island.

In announcing the burn ban, King County Fire Marshal Eric Urban said: We are coming into the busy summer season. While its a time to celebrate and have fun with family and friends, its also a time when the risk of fire increases. Our first responders are always working hard to respond to any and all emergencies, but the community can do its part by obeying the Stage 1 Burn Ban to help prevent uncontrolled fires.

Urban also urged residents who smoke to use extreme caution with their ashes or when theyre extinguishing cigarettes.

Original post:

New COVID vaccine on the way, and fire risk is up - Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber

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It seems like most people know someone who has had COVID-19 recently. We dont tend to think of illness spreading in the summer when were making travel plans and gathering with friends and family. But given the increase, its an important time to think about how to do our activities more safely.

We sat down with Dr. Eric Chow, Chief of Communicable Disease for Public Health, to talk about COVID-19 heading into this summer and how to apply what we learned during the pandemic into our lives and daily activities, particularly during times of increased COVID-19 activity.

Since May, weve seen a higher levels of COVID-19 across our metrics including wastewater, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations. This is coming after several months of decreased COVID-19 activity. While COVID-19 may not be on peoples radar right now, it hasnt gone away.

I am concerned about the increased COVID-19 activity we are seeing as people, especially those who are older or have chronic conditions, can get very sick. We also know we are at risk for long COVID and steps we can take in our lives can continue to reduce the chance of these complications developing.

Its understandable that people are still burnt out on COVID-19 precautions. Im still concerned because COVID-19 is still here and whenever infections increase in the community, it is our vulnerable residents who carry a larger burden of the severe disease. Additionally, when someone gets COVID-19, theres a risk of getting long COVID.

Long COVID can be debilitating and life altering including symptoms such as extreme fatigue, difficulty thinking, pain, and dizziness. These symptoms can last for months or years, and can make it extremely difficult to go to work, school, or carry on with daily life. You can develop long COVID even if you have COVID-19 and have no symptoms or mild illness. It can affect people of all ages, even if you were previously in good health.

Anyone who has had COVID-19 is at risk for long COVID. The way you prevent getting long COVID is by not getting COVID-19 in the first place. Staying up to date with recommended COVID-19 vaccinations can also reduce your risk of long COVID.

Precautions are also worth it because we continue to have hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19, mainly for older adults, those that have underlying conditions, or who are not vaccinated. Deaths from COVID-19 remain higher than influenza, even at this point in the pandemic.

Given the higher levels of COVID-19 activity right now, its a good idea to get a COVID-19 vaccination if you havent had a shot since September 2023, so long as vaccines are available. Or, if you are 65 or older, get another dose if its been more than four months since your last one. If youve already done that, youre up to date!

In King County, just 28% of people have received the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine and only 22% of people are up-to-date. Given the increase in COVID right now, its a good idea to make sure youre caught up on vaccination.

We will have a new formulation in the fall, and this will be recommended for anyone 6 months and older. Getting a dose now wont prevent you from getting the updated vaccination in the fall. COVID-19 is spreading now, so its better to get a shot now if youre not up-to-date.

We want people to be able to live their lives fully, so its important to think about how to do our daily activities more safely. The steps weve all heard about can really make a difference:

When you feel unwell, stay at home until your symptoms are getting better overall and you no longer have a fever for at least 24 hours. For the next five days, take precautions including masking and good hand hygiene. For those 50 and older or have underlying medical conditions that put increased risk for severe COVID-19, its important to talk with your doctor about treatment early during your illness.

As more people return to activities we enjoyed before the COVID-19 pandemic, we are seeing increases in other infections that can very effectively be prevented by vaccines, such as measles and whooping cough. In addition to checking on your COVID-19 vaccine status, its a good time to see if you and your family are up-to-date on all your vaccines. This is especially important as part of your travel planning.

Originally published on July 10, 2024.

Link:

COVID-19 is rising locally: A Q&A with Dr. Chow on practical steps - Public Health Insider

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Here's what you need to know about the next COVID-19 vaccine rollout - The Arizona Republic

The North Bay is experiencing a summer surge in COVID-19 infections, in part driven by highly contagious FLiRT subvariant and low vaccination rates, local health experts on Wednesday said.

Dr. Tanya Phares, Sonoma Countys health officer, said the current summer wave of COVID-19 infections, though a familiar trend during the pandemic, has surpassed that of the previous year.

The current summer wave has surpassed that of 2023 but not 2022, Phares said. Thats a national trend but it looks like we see that in Sonoma County, too.

This years summer wave appears to be happening sooner than last year, according to the latest available local wastewater surveillance data for SARS-CoV-2, that causes COVID-19 illness.

On June 27, the composite level of COVID-19 detected in Santa Rosa, Petaluma and Windsor wastewater sites was 56% of the maximum historic level during the pandemic.

On the same date last summer, it was 8 percent. For Santa Rosa alone the level on June 27 was 61 this summer and 8% on that date last summer.

Local wastewater detection of COVID-19 has been climbing since late April. Phares said its unclear if COVID-19 infections are simply peaking earlier this summer or if rates will continue to climb.

Its possible that its peaked earlier or that it's going to keep going up, but it's very hard to predict what it's going to do, Phares said. We've seen different variants with each peak over time so we're dealing with something different each time.

Phares said national trends, as well as those in Europe, suggest continued spread of the so called FLiRT subvariants, which are descendants of the omicron variant. Nationally, the dominant FLiRT subvariant is KP.3, and KP.3.1.1 is expected to grow fairly quickly in the United States and Europe, she said.

Phares said the current surge is troubling given low vaccination rates in the county.

The overall vaccination rate the share of the population that is up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations is 23%. Even the age-group that is most vulnerable, those 65 and older, has a vaccination rate of just under 56%.

The overall up-to-date vaccination rate in Napa County is nearly 21%; and 51% for those 65 and older.

Dr. Gary Green, an infectious disease expert at Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital, said vaccine and pandemic fatigue is likely partly behind the current summer surge and low vaccination rates.

Green said Sutter is experiencing a summer ambulatory surge in cases, meaning most of the COVID-19 patients are being seen as outpatients.

He noted that there has also been a slight uptick in COVID-19 hospitalizations and emergency visits, but I wouldnt call that a surge.

Green said he suspects the bump is partly due to increased summer travel, along with waning immunity and people simply taking fewer precautions.

Summer heat waves across the country might also be driving more people indoors and in close contact, he said.

I think the heat wave kind of brought everyone indoors, into the malls, indoor shopping because it just too hot, he said. I think that crowding is going to propagate viral transmission.

Green said that currently 30% of all nasal swabs done in outpatient clinics are turning up positive. For comparison purposes, he said the start of flu season is usually declared when swab positivity rates hit 10%.

Green said in the emergency department, 16% of all COVID-19 swabs are coming up positive.

Phares said COVID-19 deaths have remained low but stable, and a particular threat for the most vulnerable groups, including frail seniors, people with chronic illnesses and compromised immune systems.

Since the beginning of the year, there have been 39 COVID-19 deaths, she said, which amounts to fewer than 10 a month.

The message is really we have to be cautious and we should make an effort to increase vaccination rates to protect ourselves, as well as to limit the spread of the disease and keep it from mutating, she said.

You can reach Staff Writer Martin Espinoza at 707-521-5213 or martin.espinoza@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @pressreno.

Excerpt from:

A summer surge of COVID infections is hitting the North Bay. Heres why an expert calls it troubling - The Santa Rosa Press Democrat

As new reports show the number of COVID-19 cases doubled within a month in Los Angeles County and across California, an outdated vaccine may be to blame.

People should check whether their last vaccine was the latest one, according to nurse practitioner Alice Benjamin, because the older version of the vaccine may not protect them from the new FLiRT variant.

If you got it in October and later, thats generally the updated vaccine, Benjamin said. If you got it prior to October, double check because if you did get the bivalent which has not been phased out, we recommend you do get an updated vaccine.

Specifically, Benjamin said that people need to look out for whether they have received the monovalent vaccine offered by Pfizer and Moderna.

The nurse practitioner added a few other summertime factors may be driving up the COVID numbers.

People arent necessarily wearing masks; theyre not required to in certain places, Benjamin said. Were traveling, were getting out for the summer. We also do have some reduced immunity. The vaccines will wane overtime.

The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic on March 11, 2020, after more than 118,000 cases and 4,291 deaths were registered.

For high risk populations, Benjamin emphasizes that two vaccines are recommended, with a second dose at least four months after the first.

Per CDC recommendations, anyone 6 months or older should have at least one of the updated COVID vaccines, Benjamin said.

Excerpt from:

An outdated vaccine could be to blame for LA's COVID surge - NBC Los Angeles

Justin Bishop, 13, watches as Registered Nurse Jennifer Reyes inoculates him with the first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at the Mount Sinai South Nassau Vaxmobile parked at the De La Salle School, Friday, May 14, 2021, in Freeport, N.Y. The De La Salle School partnered with the Vaxmobile Friday to help Long Island students 12 and over receive the first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine as part of Mount Sinai South Nassau's mobile vaccination program. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Dr. Aileen Marty, Infectious Disease Specialist and Professor at Florida International University, joins Bob Sirott to talk about the latest health news. Dr. Marty talks about the new COVID variant, why the CDC wants everyone to get the updated COVID vaccine, and answers listeners questions.

Continued here:

CDC recommends everyone get the updated COVID vaccine - WGN Radio - Chicago

By Lin Hui-chin and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writer

Updated vaccines targeting the JN.1 variant of SARS-CoV-2 would be available from Oct. 1, health officials told a news briefing in Taipei yesterday.

The government urges people to get inoculated with any available COVID-19 vaccine, as shots with a 30 percent mismatch to the latest variants can retain up to 80 percent of their effectiveness, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices convener Lee Ping-ing () said.

A recent WHO advisory states that governments should provide vaccinations as soon as doses become available and not try to obtain the latest vaccines at the expense of delaying inoculations, Lee said.

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Director-General Chuang Jen-hsiang () said the centers selected vaccines targeting the JN.1 variant for the fall and winter, as newer vaccines targeting the KP.2 variant are not expected to be available outside North America soon.

Citing the governments contract with Moderna, Chuang said that 5.5 million doses of JN.1-adapted vaccines would be delivered in the fall and winter, and another 2.7 million doses would arrive late next year.

The CDC plans to authorize COVID-19 vaccine subsidies on a year-by-year basis following the full delivery of Moderna vaccines next year, he said.

Meanwhile, Taiwanese are urged to get vaccinated with the remaining 2.7 million XBB-targeted vaccine doses, he said.

Influenza vaccinations would be administered concurrently with COVID-19 jabs, CDC Deputy Director-General Tseng Shu-hui () said.

The new COVID-19 vaccines would first be available to doctors, nurses and hospital workers; people aged 65 or older; people of indigenous descent aged 55 or older; and people in long-term care facilities, Tseng said.

Children aged six months to 18 years; parents of infants younger than six months; childcare professionals; people with underlying health conditions aged 19 to 64; people with a body mass index higher than 30; people with rare diseases or serious injuries; and people who work in animal or human disease prevention are also eligible, she said.

Comments will be moderated. Keep comments relevant to the article. Remarks containing abusive and obscene language, personal attacks of any kind or promotion will be removed and the user banned. Final decision will be at the discretion of the Taipei Times.

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New COVID-19 shots coming in the fall -

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COVID-19 KP.3 symptoms and what to know about July 2024 uptick in NY - Democrat & Chronicle

As new reports show the number of COVID-19 cases doubled within a month in Los Angeles County and across California, an outdated vaccine may be to blame.

People should check whether their last vaccine was the latest one, according to nurse practitioner Alice Benjamin, because the older version of the vaccine may not protect them from the new FLiRT variant.

If you got it in October and later, thats generally the updated vaccine, Benjamin said. If you got it prior to October, double check because if you did get the bivalent which has not been phased out, we recommend you do get an updated vaccine.

Specifically, Benjamin said that people need to look out for whether they have received the monovalent vaccine offered by Pfizer and Moderna.

The nurse practitioner added a few other summertime factors may be driving up the COVID numbers.

People arent necessarily wearing masks; theyre not required to in certain places, Benjamin said. Were traveling, were getting out for the summer. We also do have some reduced immunity. The vaccines will wane overtime.

The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic on March 11, 2020, after more than 118,000 cases and 4,291 deaths were registered.

For high risk populations, Benjamin emphasizes that two vaccines are recommended, with a second dose at least four months after the first.

Per CDC recommendations, anyone 6 months or older should have at least one of the updated COVID vaccines, Benjamin said.

Read the original post:

How to know if you have the updated COVID vaccine - NBC Los Angeles