New COVID variants fuel spike in cases as updated vaccine is on its way – KGAN TV

IOWA CITY, Iowa Health leaders in Iowa warn that COVID-19 cases are on the rise across the state, mirroring a national trend.

Iowa Public Health no longer provides specific numbers of cases and hospitalizations. However, wastewater data and the rate of positive tests confirm that new variants are spreading rapidly.

What most folks have noticed over the past couple of weeks or month is a spike in cases once again, Sam Jarvis, with Johnson County Public Health, said.

Although many have returned to living without any precautions, the pandemic continues. While the flu is largely seasonal, spikes in COVID still happen year-round and cases continue to spread around the globe. Years of exposure and vaccination are having a positive impact.

Jarvis said 90% of the U.S. population have some level of immunity, whether from vaccination or infection.

But as time goes on, we'll continue to encourage folks to stay up to date as possible to hopefully reduce symptoms and protect them from getting infected, he said.

Public health officials are concerned as children return to school soon which could potentially increase transmission. However, not everyone is planning to get vaccinated.

Sophia Knauff, a University of Iowa freshman, expressed her doubts.

I don't think there was a lot of research done on it, she said.

Knauff, who plans to get a flu shot, has never received the COVID vaccine and doesn't plan on getting it this year.

I feel like young people like us don't really need that. But, I think definitely the people that are at risk should take all the precautions for sure," she said.

Health leaders said opinions expressing opposition to the vaccine is common.

As the effects of the pandemic fade into the background, the vaccination rate has fallen from the highs seen in 2021.

I believe it's roughly reported between the high 20% to low 40% across the board, but we'd like to see that higher, Jarvis said.

One reason for that is that new variants can evade immunity earned through infection or prior vaccination.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) could approve new vaccines to protect against the latest variants as early as this week.

Manufacturers said once that happens, they can have the new shots available to the public in a matter of days.

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New COVID variants fuel spike in cases as updated vaccine is on its way - KGAN TV