As Covid cases begin to increase this summer, many may ask: What are my risks and it is time to get another vaccine?
As of July 15, Covid cases were growing or probably grew in 27 states, including Texas, Illinois, Kentucky, Virginia and Ohio, according to the centers for disease control and prevention.
Positive COVID test rates have also increased in recent weeks, according to CDC, specifically in the southern region of the country.
NB1.8.1 is the current dominant variant in the United States, which represents 43% of all COVID new cases, according to CDC. It is a branch of the CEPA XVD.1.5.1, a descendant of the OMICRON variant. NB1.8.1 was responsible for an increase in hospitalizations in China earlier this year.
He has been nicknamed “shaving blade throat”, since there have been anecdotal reports that some people have painful throat pain, said Dr. William Schaffner, an expert in infectious diseases at the Medical Center of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Schaffner pointed out, however, that throat pain has been a common Covid symptom since it began to spread.
“I doubt that Covid’s clinical spectrum has changed substantially,” said Schaffner.
Do I need a Covid reinforcement? When will new vaccines be available?
The increase in cases occurs, since many Americans have probably spent a year or more without a COVID shot.
In May, the Food and Drug Administration asked the manufacturers of medicines to update their COVID vaccines to point to the strain LP.8.1, a descendant of Jn.1, which began to extend widely in 2023 and is another branch of Omicron. LP.8.1 Currently represents 31% of all new cases, according to CDC.
The new shots will not be available until autumn, and they are expected to be approved only for adults of 65 years and older and adults with at least a medical condition that puts them at risk of serious diseases. Healthy children and adults who want a photo can have to find an earlier version or pay in their pocket. A single dose can cost up to $ 140.
However, experts say that the immunity of the population, either by vaccination, prior infection or both, can protect much of the public for now.
“While we do not have much level of immunity in the population at this time, because it has been so long, we may have enough low level immunity to make it a little more difficult for that virus easily transmit from person to person,” said Andy Pekosz, an infectious disease researcher at the Johns Hopkins University.
In fact, weekly hospitalization rates have remained low, suggesting that the new variant may not be leading to serious illness.
The number of cases is still drastically lower than those of this time last year, when the test rate of the test reached its maximum point in August in 17.9%. The 2025 season has not yet scraped 5%.
Pekosz said that it is not unusual for cases to increase during the summer, when people are likely to pile up inside to escape heat. However, he believes that there is a wave of summer cases, it will be a small one.
“The variants have existed for a while and have not caused any important increase to date,” Pekosz said. “Then, again, I hope that if we see an increase, it will be a low level increase compared to previous years.”
Dr. Offer Levy, director of the Precision Vaccine Program at the Boston Children’s Hospital, who advised the FDA, said that people who have a high risk of severe diseases may still want to consider receiving an Asta opportunity, if they can find one.
High risk groups include:
- Older adults
- People with weakened immune systems
- Pregnant women
- Those with underlying health conditions, such as asthma and heart disease.
Getting a chance is especially important, said Levy, for those who have not had one in more than a year and whose immunity has probably decreased.
“If you are in a high -risk group and are in a state where the cases are increasing, you may want to get the first available appointment and get an opportunity to protect yourself,” he said.
People with high risk may consider obtaining an additional COVID opportunity when updated vaccines are distributed in autumn, he said.
Covid has two waves a year
Schaffner, from Vanderbilt, said that people in high -risk groups can also consider using a mask during internal activities, such as films.
Healthy adults and children can wait more before receiving another opportunity, Levy added.
“If you are in a lower risk group, that’s where things get confusing,” he said. “I mean, if you want a vaccine and your medical care provider and you can get it.”
Dr. Michael Phillips, an infectious disease doctor in Nyu Langone, said that he mainly sees immunocompromised adults and that older adults give positive for the virus. For those who have not received a Covid opportunity in years, Phillips said he still doesn’t believe they should worry.
“If you are younger, otherwise healthy, I think you are fine,” said Phillips. “If you have a underlying pulmonary disease, you know, if you are an older age group, now it is a time when you should really talk to a doctor and say: ‘God, should I receive a reinforcement for Covid?”
He said that the amount of positive covid tests that Nyu Langone has seen has decreased by 40% since February.
Fatima Amaeka, a senior analyst at the Center for Innovation for Outs Response in Johns Hopkins, said he hopes that the current wave reaches its maximum point around September.
Schaffner said he waited for another wave at the end of autumn and winter.
“[Covid] It has two increases every year, “he said.” All are familiar with the increase in winter that goes along with the flu and the RSV. ”
