variants

Omicron booster shots are coming—with lots of questions – Updated 9/2/22

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The new shots target both the original strain of the coronavirus and the omicron BA.4/BA.5 subvariants that most people are catching now. This double-barreled vaccine is called a bivalent vaccine. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/08/31/1120241293/fda-authorizes-first-revamp-of-covid-vaccines-to-target-omicron

For the BA.4/BA.5 boosters, the companies have submitted animal data. They have not released those data publicly, although at the June FDA meeting, Pfizer presented preliminary findings in eight mice given BA.4/BA.5 vaccines as their third dose. Compared with the mice that received the original vaccine as a booster, the animals showed an increased response to all Omicron variants tested: BA.1, BA.2, BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5.

Omicron booster shots are coming—with lots of questions — https://www.science.org/content/article/omicron-booster-shots-are-coming-lots-questions

Update 9/2/22

Some answers to commonly asked questions can be found in the Stat article.

On Thursday evening, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky signed off on the recommendation made earlier in the day by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, that the newly formulated vaccines be used.

Your questions on the new Covid vaccine boosters answered — https://www.statnews.com/2022/09/01/your-questions-on-the-new-covid-vaccine-boosters-answered/

Monoclonal Antibody RX and Covid Variants

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Most monoclonal antibody therapies that neutralized early variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus are less effective or not effective against the BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5 Omicron subvariants that currently make up almost 99% of infections in the United States, according to a report in Nature.

Evolving Omicron Subvariants Are More Resistant to Antibody Therapy — https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2795047

Oops.

T cells recognize recent SARS-CoV-2 variants

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Scanning electron micrograph of a human T lymphocyte (also called a T cell) from the immune system of a healthy donor. NIAID

In their study of recovered COVID-19 patients, the researchers determined that SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T-cell responses remained largely intact and could recognize virtually all mutations in the variants studied. While larger studies are needed, the researchers note that their findings suggest that the T cell response in convalescent individuals, and most likely in vaccinees, are largely not affected by the mutations found in these three variants, and should offer protection against emerging variants.

T cells recognize recent SARS-CoV-2 variants — https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/t-cells-recognize-recent-sars-cov-2-variants

What is driving the second wave in India? — Science Chronicle

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Understanding the infectiousness of the double mutant variant becomes all the more important as noncompliance to COVID-19 appropriate behaviour is uniformly poor across India. Yet, the surge in cases is seen only in 19 States, and mainly in about a dozen States. In the absence of timely results of such studies, which will help policy […]

What is driving the second wave in India? — Science Chronicle

Just the use of the phrase “double mutant variant” sends chills up my spinal cord.

Covid-19 and Young Adults – You Are Not Invincible (a gentle reminder)

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Whistler recorded 1,120 COVID-19 cases from the beginning of January to March 28, with 218 of them last week alone, driven by the P.1 variant most commonly associated with Brazil. The majority of cases – 83.2 per cent – are in people aged 20 to 39.

Variant that forced B.C. ski resort shut is rapidly spreading, sending more young people to hospital — https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-covid-19-variant-spreading-rapidly-in-bc/

Young adults age 18 to 34 years hospitalized with COVID-19 experienced substantial rates of adverse outcomes: 21% required intensive care, 10% required mechanical ventilation, and 2.7% died. This in-hospital mortality rate is lower than that reported for older adults with COVID-19, but approximately double that of young adults with acute myocardial infarction.4 Morbid obesity, hypertension, and diabetes were common and associated with greater risks of adverse events. Young adults with more than 1 of these conditions faced risks comparable with those observed in middle-aged adults without them. More than half of these patients requiring hospitalization were Black or Hispanic, consistent with prior findings of disproportionate illness severity in these demographic groups.5,6

Clinical Outcomes in Young US Adults Hospitalized With COVID-19 — https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2770542

Please get vaccinated as soon as you’re eligible. This is a gentle reminder before I start getting a bit harsher with my messaging.

SARS-CoV-2 Variants – P.1 Arrives in Oklahoma

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https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/variant-surveillance/variant-info.html

The map on the CDC website is interactive and will show different variants by state.

I don’t consider myself to be an alarmist. Truth be told I am pragmatic. And what I read and research about this nasty virus tells me this is no time to let our guard down. Get vaccinated as soon as you are eligible. In group settings or mingling amongst vaccination status unknowns wear a mask. Practice sensible hygiene. Don’t believe SARS-CoV-2/VOC’s is just an old person disease.

Meanwhile in Brazil…

By the way we have just one P.1 confirmed case in Oklahoma. Let’s together do what’s necessary to keep this number as low as possible.

SARS-CoV-2 Variants – (in mice)

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Pre-print therefore not peer reviewed. No, I don’t hang out on Twitter all day long. Yes, the study is somewhat geeky. BUT here’s the money sentence:

This abrogation of the species barrier raises the possibility of wild rodent secondary reservoirs and provides new experimental models to study disease pathophysiology and countermeasures.

The B1.351 and P.1 variants extend SARS-CoV-2 host range to mice — https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.18.436013v1

Now I can’t stop thinking about “secondary reservoirs”.

SARS-CoV-2 Variants – (in cats and dogs)

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And minks.

Just remember if you get vaccinated you can still curl up with your furry friends worry free.