COVID-19 infections are growing or are likely to be growing in all 50 states in the United States, according to CDC reporting.
The rise in infections has been eclipsed by other serious illnesses such as food-borne diseases such as Cyclospora as well as the fastest growing Ebola outbreak on record in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Although there is a current summer surge in disease, overall respiratory illness activity has been low and hospitals have not been overwhelmed secondary to broad immunity in the population from prior infections and vaccinations. The virus COVID-19 can, however, cause severe disease, particularly in the elderly, those with chronic medical conditions and individuals with weakened immune systems.
How Can You Protect Yourself?
The CDC has not updated recommendations on the COVID-19 shot due to litigations of the Trump administration’s effort to upend the childhood vaccination schedule. The American Academy of Pediatrics still recommends everyone 6 months of age and older get the annual COVID-19 vaccine for maximum protection against severe illness. Vaccination against COVID-19 offers the best protection against getting sick, being hospitalized and even death.
In addition, staying home when sick, improving indoor ventilation, testing when symptoms develop and using a high-quality mask like an N-95 in crowded or poorly ventilated areas can also reduce transmission. This type of layered protection can mitigate the spread of disease, particularly during COVID-19 surges in both the summer and winter.
When Will The Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Arrive?
The new updated COVID-19 vaccine should be available early this fall and will likely target the dominant circulating strain, which is the JN.1-lineage XFG variant. The exact timing of pharmacy availability will vary as manufacturers distribute the updated vaccine. The shots should still be covered free of charge from private insurance companies as well as through government programs like the Vaccines for Children program.
Xocova And Paxlovid
Two distinct anti-viral medications have been approved by the FDA for the management of COVID-19: Xocova and Paxlovid. Xocova was approved in May of this year for post-exposure prophylaxis in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older after being in contact with someone with COVID-19. The drug should be taken within 3 days of exposure, as it has been shown to reduce symptomatic COVID-19 by 67%.
Paxlovid, on the other hand, is a treatment for COVID-19. It is usually prescribed for eligible patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 infection who are at high risk of progressing to severe disease. Treatment should be started within 5 days of symptom onset.
Vaccine Misinformation Continues To Spread
Recent false claims have been circulating online that the COVID-19 vaccine caused an 82% miscarriage rate among pregnant women. That number does not represent the miscarriage rate among vaccinated pregnant women. The claim stems from a misinterpretation of early pregnancy-safety data in which incomplete follow-up was improperly treated as evidence of miscarriage.
The CDC itself, on its own website, states that studies involving more than a million pregnant women have found no increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm delivery or birth defects.
COVID-19 has not disappeared, but it certainly has not returned to levels seen in 2020. Americans should respond to rising transmission with current evidence as opposed to panic or misinformation. The best source of information on COVID-19 and vaccines is your doctor, and these conversations are critical to ensure better health and well-being.
