COVID-19 cases surging; new vaccines coming in fall
Have you had the sniffles lately? Feeling rundown with a fever? It could be COVID-19 again. Cases of the virus are surging across the country again this summer. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says COVID hospitalizations nationally have increased since June and levels of the virus in wastewater are very high.
The U.S. also saw a COVID-19 surge last summer, but medical experts say this year’s surge is higher, thanks to a descendant of the Omicron variant.
“At UPMC Washington, we have seen a small increase in COVID positivity testing,” said Dr. John Six, Chief Medical Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Medical Affairs at UPMC Washington. “Despite this, we have not seen any clinically significant surge in COVID cases locally.”
Six said the latest surge is largely attributed to XBB.1.16.6 and XBB.1.16.7, both subvariants of the Omicron lineage. “These variants have shown some increased ability to evade immunity from previous infections and vaccinations,” Six said. “Symptoms are often mild and can include cough, fever, fatigue, and occasional GI symptoms and sore throat.”
People with underlying health conditions or who are immunocompromised along with seniors are at higher risk of severe illness. With school starting up again, doctors encourage vaccines for everyone older than 6 months as soon as the new flu and COVID vaccines are available and now recommend the shots each fall to protect against severe illness.
“For the new COVID-19 variants, previous protection levels vary,” said Six. “Prior vaccination and previous infection can provide some level of protection, but it is not absolute. COVID boosters and following public health guidelines can help in mitigating and managing risks.”
Just like the flu, COVID-19 variants change over time and vaccines reflect that from year to year. Despite this latest summer surge, peak season for COVID infections and deaths now parallels flu season, with the highest number of deaths occurring during the winter respiratory virus season. New COVID-19 vaccine boosters should be available late summer or early fall for 2024-25.
“The booster will include omicron subvariants and are designed to improve protection against emerging variants and to boost immune responses,” Six said. “In general, we would recommend all eligible individuals to receive the COVID booster vaccine with particular emphasis on high-risk groups, including older adults, people with chronic health conditions, and those with weakened immune systems.”
To save time and a separate trip to the doctor or pharmacy, consider getting the flu shot and COVID vaccine at the same time. While they’re not available in the same shot together yet, doctors say it is generally safe to get them the same day.
“It is generally safe to get the flu shot and the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time,” said Six. “There does not appear to be any increased risk of adverse effects compared to receiving them separately.”
Currently, the percentage of people in the US who are up to date on COVID-19 vaccines is relatively low. Over the last year, only about 14% of eligible children received it while only 22% of adults received the newest dose. Only 11% of adults who ended up hospitalized due to severe COVID-19 had received the most recent booster. While newborns cannot be vaccinated, they are at risk of severe illness from COVID. That’s why doctors recommend pregnant women get the updated vaccine to pass immunity on to their baby.
Lastly, those who have recently had COVD-19 are encouraged to wait 90 days for a booster. It’s still important to get tested for COVID-19 and to stay at home if you have symptoms. If you’re at higher risk or have an underlying condition, ask your health care provider about treatments such as the antiviral Paxlovid.
“If you think you may have COVID-19, you can get tested, isolate, and notify close contacts while monitoring your symptoms,” Six said. “During this time, follow health guidelines, rest and hydrate, and consult with your doctor.”