COVID variant NB.1.8.1 spreads as Trump pivots away from vaccines
In California, a new, highly transmitted Covid Subvariant has been detected – as the last moves of Trump administration threatened to make vaccines difficult, and some more expensive health professionals were warned for many Americans.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced This week, the federal government was canceled the proposal of pregnant women and healthy children to vaccinate against Covid immediately.
US Food and Pharmaceutical Administration Commissioner Marty Makary said that the agency will no longer approve the annual Covid-19 vaccines formulated for healthy people under 65 years of age.
Makary, another FDA official. Vinay Prasad, “Covid-19 three times and six doses of Covid-19 vaccine with a normal BMI’li healthy 52-year-old healthy woman, we do not know that the seventh dose,” he said. written This month in the New England Medical Magazine. “This policy will force the production of evidence that is very needed.”
However, some experts say that more comprehensive tests may delay vaccination access for many people, because these efforts may not be completed until the end of the next winter flu and the detention season.
President of the American Academy of Pediatrics infectious Diseases Committee Sean O’leary, “Pregnant women, babies and young children are at the risk of hospitalization from Covid and the security of the Covid vaccine has been widely shown,” he said.
The US Disease Control and Prevention Centers generally said that an updated vaccine provides children and adults. Additional protection From emergency service and emergency care visits related to Covid.
According to some experts, the latest federal changes can encourage private insurance companies and government insurers to stop paying for Covid shooting for large segments of the population, including infants and children.
Experts say that there is no advice by the federal authorities and that Americans may pay a vaccine cost. For example, for a CVS vaccine, the cost from mobile is $ 198.99.
Although the emergency phase of the pandema has been going on for a long time, the authorities say Covid is a concern of public health. UC SAN Francisco Infectious Diseases Specialist Peter Chin-Hong, in Europe and Asia, “Especially Hong Kong, Taiwan, other countries, Japan, etc.” He said.
This subvariant, nb.1.8.1, was first documented in January and has been detected in California, including Los Angeles County and San Francisco Gulf. World Health Organization set Variant under a “monitoring” last week.
Nb.1.8.1 has grown worldwide in recent weeks. Omicron Subvariant represented 10.7% of the viral examples that were genetically analyzed worldwide during the week ending on April 27th. This is from the week ending on April 6, Subvariant accountable 2.5% of the worldwide samples.
“Although there are still low numbers, this is a significant increase, ve he said,“ NB.1.8.1 is a synonymous increase in cases and hospitalization in some countries where it is common. ”
Nb.1.8.1 is not yet widespread in the United States watched publicly By CDC. Another strain, LP.8.1, made an estimated 73% of the Coronavirus samples for the two -week period that ended on Saturday.
The data can be transmitted more than that we see it worldwide and at the same time laboratory experiments, nb says the data is that nb.1.8.1 does not cause a more serious illness.
In Taiwan, a high -level health authority told reporters, Central News Agency said that “serious and deadly cases continued to increase rapidly with a continuous increase” reportedCovid test kits shortage. Health officials, Taiwan’s fluctuating factor is the lack of a large Covid wave throughout the winter, and the current increase of the island can not reach the summit for four to six weeks, he said.
Nb.1.8.1, Western Pacific (including parts of Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia and parts of Australia) – COVID samples – Covid samples still increased the prevalence in each of the three regions that constantly share genetic analysis; Europe; And America.
According to the Ministry of Public Health, the recycling rate of Covid tests in Los Angeles County has increased slightly in the last few weeks, but the overall positive rate has been 3.5%low. Coronavirus levels detected in the wastewater of the district have increased by 6% in the last three weeks, but also remained relatively low and is about eighth of the summit in the summer of last year.
California experienced a slight winter season, the first of the Covid era, which follows a strongest summer increase that has been the most powerful for years.
Many experts and officials have initiated existing Covid vaccines both in the prevention of infection and in reducing the severity of symptoms. However, otherwise healthy individuals need to gather their arms.
One Video message In Tuesday X, Kennedy, a noted vaccine suspicion, said, “As of today, COVİD vaccine for healthy pregnant women would not be more pleased to announce that the COVİD vaccine was removed from the proposed vaccination program,” he said.
Experts said that a political appointment could not recall a time when scientists who typically advised FDA and CDC skipped the process of making vaccine suggestions containing panels.
“It’s a little creepy, Chin Chin-Hong said. “He did not step with the system we learned to trust and follow.”
In a statement to Times, La District Public Health Department Kennedy’yi, CDC’yi planned to gather next month – before reducing any vaccine “vaccination practices, including the advisory committee called to listen to experts in the field.
On Thursday, CDC’s website had a long-standing vaccine suggestions: 6 months and larger everyone should get the latest Covid-19 vaccine known as the 2024-25 version of the officially introduced in September. The CDC also recommends that the elderly aged 65 years and older to receive a second vaccination dose six months after the first.
The Ministry of Public Health in California said in a statement that he supports the extensive advice for Covid vaccines and that he would continue to follow the federal speech with this dynamic situation ”.
“With Covid-19 vaccination can reduce the risk of disease, especially more serious cases that result in hospitalization or death,” he said.
Washington Post reported On Wednesday, the CDC does not know until Kennedy published the directive and the authorities “are trying to find out what it means”.
Experts speaking with Times can be much more expensive vaccines for affected groups – if the practical effect of the decree becomes official.
La District Public Health Ministry said in a statement, “Vaccines were not recommended by CDC, insurance companies would not have to meet the cost.” He said.
As a result, vaccines can still be less accessible to healthier people who want to be less accessible-perhaps because they live or work with the elderly or other high-risk people, they have previously had serious covid disease or they want to protect themselves against the latest subvariant.
FDA, younger, healthier adults updated for an updated Covid vaccination for a license, this group “providers ” could not get it unless you choose to make ” he said.
When asked if healthy pregnant women and healthy children can still be vaccinated in their pharmacies, Walgreens teams operate exactly in accordance with the valid laws ”. The CVS said that his / her location was “following the federal guidance on vaccine management and that the government can follow the changes that the vaccine is suitable”.
Kaiser Permante South California said he was aware of potential changes, but he said that a new official guidance has not yet been published. As a result, Kaiser continues to follow the current guidance that proposes shooting for everyone.
La District Public Health Ministry, according to existing suggestions from a advisory panel and CDC, on Wednesday, “pregnant women and healthy children can be vaccinated for Covid-19,” he said.
Chin-Hong said that there were 150 pediatric deaths in the USA from Covid-19 in the last year. In the same basketball field as 231 Pediatric flu deaths This season was recorded and federal health officials recommend that everyone gets an annual flu vaccine for 6 months and older.
“Most people agree that children should target influenza vaccines. It seems strange to have Covid in this respect.
In the video released this week, Makary said that most countries in the world stop recommending vaccination for children ”.
However, Maldonado said he did not use the standards of other nations to dictate the US vaccination proposals. For example, the United States suggests other types of vaccines with a lower prevalence than the COVİD that people want to buy, Mald Maldonado meningococcal vaccine To protect children seriously bacterial disease This may infecify the brain and spinal cord and cause death within hours.
The effect of a advice varies according to the country. For example, Canada recommends updated Covid vaccines for other people who meet certain criteria such as the elderly and their pregnancy or a health workers. However, the country’s universal health system still allows everyone to receive an updated Covid vaccine.
In general, although the risk of developing serious Covid disease is lower, people under the age of 6 months have the same risk of complications as the 65 -year -old plus population in this country, Mal says Maldonado, who also serves in Stanford’s CDC’s immune practices consultation committee.
Hospitalization rates associated with COVID among children suitable for vaccination highest According to CDC, for those aged 6 months to 4 years.
“Are children the highest risk group? No, they’re not. But would you like to protect your child from a disease that can put your child into a ventilator and put it in a ventilator? Maldonado said.
CDC says that during pregnancy, Covid vaccination creates antibodies that can help protect the baby; Studies have also shown that breastfeeding mothers have protective antibodies in their milk, which can help protect their infants.
Estimated 260,000 to 430,000 hospitalization Since October, Dr. Fiona HAVERS caused “a tremendous burden on the health system .. in question at a last public meeting. During the same time period, the estimated 30,000 to 50,000 Covid-19 death.
“This is an important reason for morbidity and mortality, especially in elderly adults, but it affects other people, especially those with underlying conditions in younger age groups.”
Covid is an important reason for pediatric hospitalization even among healthy children.
“If there is a summer wave this year, we will see that children were taken to hospital with Covid,” he said.
