New COVID-19 vaccines shield against current strains, FDA confirms.
Three New Variants of COVID-19 Circulating in the United States
Exciting news! There are three new variants of COVID-19 making their way through the United States. But don’t worry, public health officials assure us that the newest vaccines against the virus will provide the protection we need.
Monitoring the Dominant Strains
In June, the Food and Drug Administration’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee gathered to predict which strain of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, would dominate the upcoming fall and winter cycle. They advised vaccine manufacturers to tailor their vaccines to the XBB 1.5 strain, a variant of Omicron.
The Three Variants to Watch
Now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring three different variants: EG.5, FL 1.5.1, and BA 2.86. These variants are currently the most prevalent in the United States.
An FDA spokesperson assured us that the new round of vaccines, expected to be available in mid- or late September, will be effective against all three variants. According to the spokesperson, “If authorized or approved, based upon the available evidence, the FDA believes these vaccines with a monovalent XBB.1.5 composition will provide the best available protection against the most serious consequences of the disease resulting from currently circulating variants.”
EG.5 and FL 1.5.1, both Omicron variants, make up the majority of current infections, with EG.5 accounting for approximately 20.6% and FL 1.5.1 comprising 13.3%. While these two strains are not identical to XBB.1.5, they share significant genetic similarities, leading experts to believe that the booster shots will still offer a good degree of protection.
On the other hand, BA 2.86, also known as Pirola, is quite different from other Omicron variants due to several mutations. The CDC states that Pirola has undergone mutations similar to the difference between the first highly infectious Omicron strain and its Delta precursors.
As of August 19, there have been only seven confirmed cases of Pirola in the United States, according to CDC data. However, it has also been detected in Denmark and Israel. Experts warn that BA 2.86 carries the risk of becoming internationally widespread and accumulating more mutations.
The Perception of the Pandemic
Interestingly, while these new variants are circulating, the majority of Americans believe that the COVID-19 pandemic is officially over. According to a Gallup survey conducted in June, a total of 64% of Americans, including 51% of Democrats, 84% of Republicans, and 65% of independents, are confident that the pandemic is officially over.
However, the survey also revealed that only 43% of Americans feel that their lives have completely returned to normal, while 41% believe their lives will never be the same as before the pandemic.
Another survey conducted by KFF, an independent healthcare policy organization, found that 33% of Americans think it is at least probable that the COVID-19 vaccines are the cause of thousands of sudden deaths in the United States. Shockingly, 14% of Americans believe that more people died from the COVID-19 vaccines than from the disease itself, and 24% believe that the vaccines cause infertility.
It’s important to stay informed and rely on credible sources for accurate information about the pandemic and vaccines.
For more details, you can click here to read the full article from The Washington Examiner.
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