BA.5, a new subvariant of Omicron, shows how the virus continues to evolve, centered on humanity’s best efforts to defeat the virus.
She explains how BA.5 circumvents vaccine protection and infects people, but has not yet surged in the most serious cases of hospitalization and death in the ICU in the United States.
It affects not only those who have recently been infected with Covid-19, but also those who have been completely vaccinated.
In the latest example of evolving science that drives the goal post for protection against severe cases of Covid-19, complete vaccination, the first booster, and the second booster beyond the previous infection are now older. The best protection for Americans.
It will be boosted.And if possible, it will be boosted again
Public health officials are encouraging adults over the age of 50 to take a second booster shot.
But many haven’t paid attention yet. Only about a quarter of these eligible adults receive a second booster.
People under the age of 50 wonder when they can take another dose.
However, the White House claimed on Tuesday that BA.5 was not the cause of caution.
“This is the message I want to convey to the American people. BA.5 is what we are watching carefully, and most importantly, we know how to manage it.” Said Dr. Ashish Jar, Covid of the White House. 19 Response coordinator.
Protection is up to you
According to Dr. Linawen, an emergency doctor at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health and a professor of health policy and management, precautions can minimize the risk of infection.
But it’s not everyone.
“On the other hand, because of the risk of long-distance symptoms, many may still prioritize not being infected with Covid-19,” Wen said. “They may also have underlying medical conditions that are prone to more serious consequences for themselves, or others who are more vulnerable and want to reduce their risk to those around them. You may live with. “
Large undercount
CNN reports that the official numbers can miss most of the new infections that can reach 1 million per day, so it’s unclear how widespread the BA.5 surge will actually be. Hmm.
One of the factors behind the underestimation is the increasing reliance on the Covid-19 test at home. The results are rarely reported to health authorities.
“This is unfortunately the full BA.5 wave we are experiencing in the summer and is actually getting worse in the southern states. What do you guess? Like 2020, Like 2021. “
He said the vaccine is actually effective against new subvariants only if you are boosted and double boosted if eligible.
“I think this is the game changer for this BA.5 subvariant …. One dose is not enough. Two doses are not enough. Especially, it is not enough to get infected with Omicron and recover. Its booster, You should get two boosters if you can. You are over 50 years old. ”
What about more boosters for people under the age of 50?
Hotez pointed out that boosters may not be able to stop the infection, but they are certainly more effective against hospitalization and death.
Vaccines for people under 5 years old
Adults over the age of 50 are required to receive a fourth dose, but the youngest American, under the age of 5, is recently eligible for the first two doses. The data suggests that it is very slow.
Covid-19 is usually less dangerous to the youngest Americans, but it has killed hundreds of people.
She gave three main reasons. Excerpted below.
First, Covid-19 is an unpredictable disease. According to the US Disease Center, most children recover with mild symptoms, but many have landed in hospitals and emergency rooms, and to date more than 400 children have died of illness in the United States alone. Control and prevention. .. ..
Secondly … the vaccine is in the body for a short period of time … It tells the body to make a protective antibody against Covid-19, and the body’s own cellular mechanism quickly destroys it. For this reason, there really isn’t a plausible way it hinders the growth of my little William. I’m always thinking about it. .. ..
Finally … I believe in the rigorous process the vaccine went through to get approvalI think the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the CDC have adopted some of the best brains of our time to review the data and serve in an independent panel that recommends giving the vaccine a green light. ..
Source: www.cnn.com
