People wait to take coronavirus disease (COVID-19) tests at a pop-up testing site in Latest York City, July 11, 2022.
Brendan McDermid | Reuters
Probably the most immune-evasive omicron subvariants yet are actually causing greater than 70% of latest infections within the U.S., as hundreds of thousands of Americans prepare to travel and gather with family for the vacations.
The BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 subvariants taken together are actually chargeable for 68% of latest cases, in response to data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday. The XBB subvariant is causing 4.7% of latest Covid infections.
Scientists, in several independent studies, have described the BQ and XBB subvariants as more proficient at evading immunity from vaccination and infection than prior versions of the virus.
They pose a big threat to individuals with compromised immune systems because key antibody treatments are immune to them. The Food and Drug Administration last week pulled bebtelovimab, a monoclonal antibody used to stop individuals who catch Covid from developing severe illness.
Bebtelovimab was utilized by individuals who cannot take other FDA-authorized treatments, similar to the antiviral Paxlovid. Many individuals with weak immune systems, similar to organ transplant patients, cannot take Paxlovid with their other medications.
The BQ and XBB subvariants are also immune to Evusheld, an antibody cocktail that many individuals with compromised immune systems depend on for defense because they don’t mount an adequate response to the vaccines. The FDA still authorizes Evusheld to be used.
The omicron boosters also trigger a weaker immune response against the BQ and XBB subvariants than they do to the previously dominant version of the virus, in response to a recent study. The shots were designed against the BA.5 subvariant, which is now causing just 11% of infections within the U.S.
Though the boosters are likely less effective against the BQ and XBB subvariants than they’re against BA.5, they do still trigger an immune response. Pfizer found that the brand new boosters do a greater job against BQ.1.1 and XBB than the unique shots.
White House chief medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci, in a press conference last month, said the boosters will still provide protection against the more immune evasive subvariants, though not at an optimal level. Fauci said protection declines some with BQ.1.1, but drops multifold against XBB.
The shots are expected to offer higher protection against hospitalization than infection and mild illness, experts say.
Covid infections and hospitalizations are rising after the Thanksgiving holiday. Cases increased nearly 50% to about 459,000 for the week ended Dec. 7, in comparison with 307,000 the week prior, in response to CDC data. That is an undercount since the official data doesn’t include the outcomes of people that test at home.
Hospitalizations of individuals with Covid have increased about 14% week over week to greater than 4,800 admissions per day on average, in response to CDC data. Greater than 50% of those hospitalized are ages 70 and older.
CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky encouraged the general public to mask up this winter to assist prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses, particularly people who find themselves living in counties with high Covid levels.
The CDC is looking on everyone who’s eligible to get their Covid booster and flu shot to assist reduce the burden of disease this winter.