COVID-19 infections are on the rise nationwide, and while we have returned to our routines including attending large events, it’s recommended to take precautions. A main defense is to stay current with vaccinations. Newly updated vaccines are now available to the community at local pharmacies and medical facilities.
The Pfizer-BioNTech, Novavax and Moderna shots each have been updated to protect against variants of the virus that surged during the summer, such as the KP.2 variant that evolved from Omicron.
Anyone 6 months and over can receive either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, while those who are at least 12 years old can receive the Novavax shot.
The vaccines are available at CVS, including the one located in the City of San Fernando, where you can walk in to receive a shot. You can also make appointments online or over the phone. The updated vaccines will also be available at Rite Aid and Walgreens.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said getting the latest vaccine is especially important if you have never received a COVID vaccine, are 65 years and older, are at high risk for severe COVID-19 due to certain medical conditions, are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, are living in a long-term care facility or want to lower your risk of getting Long COVID.
Rates of COVID-19 tend to rise in the summer months due to a multitude of factors, from people staying inside closed, air-conditioned spaces – where the virus can more easily spread – to coming in contact with others traveling for vacations and during the Labor Day holiday.
There are also the new variants of COVID-19 to contend with, including KP.3, along with the lifting of public health measures – including social distancing and mask mandates – that have allowed the virus to continue spreading.
The CDC determined that COVID-19 infections, as of Aug. 27, are growing and also detected high or very high levels of the virus in wastewater in almost every state.
The CDC’s COVID-19 tracker also found that the rate of hospitalizations increased in June and July, peaking in the week ending on Aug. 10 at 4.6 per 100,000 people. However, it has been declining since then, dropping to 3.1.
Doctor Recommends Diligence
Although the number of infections has risen, it’s not all doom and gloom. Dr. James Michail, a geriatric specialist at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, said that while there is a surge within the community, people aren’t becoming as sick as they were in the initial phase of the pandemic.
“I think part of that is multifactorial. Firstly, more people are vaccinated,” Michail said. “There’s also natural immunity from a lot of people who have been exposed to it already in the community – it’s a lot more mild of an infection, but it is widespread.”
He added that the decrease in severity is also due to the medication used to treat COVID-19, including Paxlovid.
At the same time, while the severity has decreased, Michail thinks there is a chance for the number of infections to increase as we approach the fall flu season. The flu season begins in October, with the peak hitting around December during the winter holidays. In addition, Michail said there is an issue of complacency when it comes to safety precautions.
“The hospital is on top of it, but in the community, hand washing and masks are not mandated,” Michail said. “People rarely wear masks now, even if they have a cough. … We rarely hear about social distancing anymore, and that was kind of the best thing for [combatting] COVID.”
Michail said that adhering to basic hygiene is one of the most important things to keep yourself safe, wearing a mask if you’re in a crowded place and getting tested as early as possible.
“Vaccinate as soon as possible,” he said. “You don’t want to gamble and wait, especially if you have not received the last [updated] vaccine.”