COVID-19:It Ain’t Over Yet, Folks, Alarming Rise in Mortality Rates of Children and Adolescents
Even as the national Public Health Emergency ends – removing several critical safety nets – a new Covid-19 subvariant known as Arcturus is emerging. Arcturus was first identified in India and has now emerged in 29 other countries. In the US, Arcturus currently accounts for about 6 percent of new Covid infections.
The World Health Organization notes that Arcturus has one more mutation in the spike protein than the prevailing XBB.1.5 variant, which may make it more infectious. Other observations indicate that one symptom of the new subvariant is conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye.
ESTEEMED EXPERTS led a roundtable discussion hosted byEthnic Media Services( EMS), which will focused on: the new guidelines for boosting; alternatives to Paxlovid and Remdesivir, which will become out of the reach of millions of Americans as the public health emergency ends; and the possible increased vulnerability to other respiratory illnesses following a Covid infection. Experts were:
- Dr. Benjamin Neuman, Professor of Biology and Chief Virologist of the Global Health Research Complex at Texas A&M University
- Dr. William Schaffner, Professor/Chair, Department of Preventive Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Dr. Robert Wachter, Professor/Chair, Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco
“COVID-19: It Ain’t Over Yet, Folks” highlights the concerning rise in mortality rates of children and adolescents due to the emerging COVID-19 subvariant known as Arcturus. The Arcturus variant, first identified in India and now present in 29 other countries, has one more mutation in the spike protein than the prevailing XBB.1.5 variant, which may make it more infectious. Additionally, one symptom of the Arcturus variant is conjunctivitis, or pink eye.
Although the national Public Health Emergency has ended, removing several critical safety nets, experts warn of the potential consequences of the Arcturus variant and the vulnerability to other respiratory illnesses following a COVID infection. The roundtable discussion will focus on new guidelines for boosting and alternatives to Paxlovid and Remdesivir, which will become out of reach for millions of Americans as the public health emergency ends.
During the discussion, Dr. Robert Wachter notes that the state of COVID-19 feels reasonably mild compared to what we have seen in the past three years and remarkably stable. However, he also acknowledges that the biggest changes are political and sociological, with any rules and restrictions being pretty much gone. The expectation is that people will be left to make their own individual decisions.
Overall, the event highlighted the importance of continued vigilance and caution despite the lifting of some restrictions. The emergence of the Arcturus variant and its potential impact on children and adolescents serve as a reminder that the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over.
While the overall risk to any individual is lower than it was at the height of the pandemic, there are still good reasons to take the virus seriously and to take steps to protect ourselves and our communities. Even if you are not at high risk yourself, you could still transmit the virus to others who are more vulnerable. Every time the virus spreads, it has the potential to mutate and create new variants, some of which could be more dangerous than what we’ve seen so far. And we don’t yet know what the long-term effects of COVID might be, even for people who have mild or asymptomatic cases.
Dr. Schaffner discussed the current state of COVID-19 in the United States and highlighted the importance of continued vaccination and booster shots for vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and immunocompromised. He expressed concern about the low percentage of people taking advantage of the new bivalent booster and anticipates an updated booster being available in the fall, along with influenza and RSV vaccines. He also acknowledged the challenge of keeping people alert and motivated to continue vaccination efforts. The conversation ended with a discussion on how people have adjusted their level of fear towards COVID-19 and the rational decisions they make based on that.
The experts discussed the eligibility for COVID boosters for those who are immunocompromised and those who are not. For immunocompromised individuals, they can receive a booster every two months, and for those who are not, they can receive a booster four months after their last one. The speakers also addressed a question about the COVID outbreak in Santa Rosa, California, and whether it is related to the variant currently ravaging India.
The experts discussed the ongoing outbreak and the difficulty of identifying specific variants that may cause point outbreaks. They also addressed the issue of wearing masks for extended periods and the potential risks, noting that there is no physiologic evidence to suggest that wearing masks causes serious health problems, but it may cause discomfort for those with underlying lung conditions.
Furthermore, the experts talked about the long-term consequences of COVID-19, such as long COVID and increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. They highlighted the importance of being vaccinated and taking certain medications, such as metformin, to decrease the risk of developing long COVID. The discussion also touched on the new variants of COVID-19 and the need for updated vaccines and boosters. There was also a mention of hybrid immunity and the importance of continuing to wear masks.
Overall, the conversation highlighted the complexity of COVID-19 and the need for ongoing research and precautionary measures.
#COVID19 #coronavirus #vaccines #variants #booster #hybridimmunity #health #medicine #publichealth #pandemic #longCOVID #masks #safety #research #FDA #vaccination #healthcare #virus #outbreak #severeinfections #heartattacks #strokes #metformin #super spreader events #touristvariant #delta variant
