Omicron subvariants proof against key antibody treatments will soon make up a majority of recent Covid infections within the U.S., in keeping with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Omicron subvariants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 now make up 44% of recent Covid cases in comparison with 32% last week, in keeping with CDC data. These subvariants will likely grow to be dominant in the subsequent week.
The once dominant omicron BA.5, meanwhile, is being displaced and now makes up 29% of recent infections.
BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 pose a special threat to individuals who have severely compromised immune systems, akin to organ transplant patients and folks on cancer chemotherapy.
Individuals with compromised immune systems often don’t mount a sufficient response to the Covid vaccines and as a consequence need additional medications to guard them from the virus.
Many individuals with moderate or severely compromised immune systems take an antibody cocktail called Evusheld to guard them from severe disease. It is run as two injections every six months.
But BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 are likely proof against Evusheld, in keeping with the National Institutes of Health. This leaves individuals with compromised immune systems increasingly vulnerable as these subvariants grow to be dominant.
BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 are also likely proof against bebtelovimab, a monoclonal antibody individuals with compromised immune systems can take to stop severe disease from Covid after an infection.
Although Pfizer’s antiviral Paxlovid stays effective, organ transplant patients often cannot take the pill due to the way in which it interacts with other medications they need.
White House chief medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci, in a radio interview last week, said the U.S. is at a crossroads within the pandemic because the more immune evasive BQ subvariants increase weekly.
“The thing that is of concern to us is that a few of our tools in our armamentarium could also be negated if in truth these newer variants grow to be rather more dominant than they’re,” Fauci said
And there are not any replacements for drugs like Evusheld on the way in which. White House Covid response coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha has blamed Congress for failing to pass additional funding for the nation’s pandemic response. Republicans have blocked more Covid money because the spring.
“We had hoped that over time because the pandemic went along, as our fight against this virus went along, we could be expanding our drugs cabinet,” Jha told reporters on the White House last month.
“Due to lack of congressional funding that medicine cabinet has actually shrunk and that does put vulnerable people in danger,” Jha said.
President Joe Biden last month altered individuals with compromised immune systems that they face a special threat from Covid this winter. The president urged them to talk with their physicians about what precautions to take.
Fauci said individuals who face a high risk from Covid should wear masks indoors in public this fall and winter, and folks who’ve vulnerable individuals of their homes should do the identical after they exit.
People must also consider taking rapid Covid tests before going to social gatherings indoors where vulnerable individuals will likely be present, Fauci said. He encouraged everyone who’s eligible to get their Covid booster and flu shots this fall.
“That could be a superb way of constructing sure you do not spread infections, so utilization of tests, wearing masks where appropriate and getting vaccinated,” he said.
U.S. health officials imagine the omicron BA.5 boosters should provide sufficient protection for the overall population against BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 because these subvariants are related to BA.5.
