By Lily H-A
From PHN Issue 50, Summer/Fall 2022
Omicron and BA.5
The current version of the coronavirus that is infecting the most people in the U.S. is called BA.5. This is a “sub-variant” of the omicron variant. It is the most contagious version of the virus yet, and it’s sometimes able to get past antibodies from prior infections and vaccination. However, these antibodies do still provide some protection from BA.5, especially against severe illness and death. BA.5 does not seem to cause more severe disease than other variants. Data are also beginning to suggest that long COVID may be somewhat less common for people after being infected with omicron sub-variants than with earlier variants.
Coronavirus cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are rising again across the U.S. as BA.5 spreads, but so far not as sharply as they did with the first omicron wave over the winter. That said, it is still very difficult to predict the course of the pandemic or when new variants may appear. Ultimately though, it isn’t surprising that new variants continue to emerge because as long as there is a COVID-19 outbreak somewhere in the world, there is a chance for the virus to mutate and take on a new form.
Vaccination, masking, distancing, and ventilation are still the best ways we know of for preventing transmission, infection, and serious disease caused by COVID-19.
The CDC still recommends universal masking for incarcerated people and staff in jails and prisons, and this is still required in federal prisons (as of July 2022). However, some state prison systems have rolled back masking policies and other COVID restrictions, and COVID policies now vary a lot between systems and individual facilities.
Vaccination Updates
On June 18, the CDC approved vaccination for children between 6 months and 5 years old. This means that now anyone 6 months or older can be vaccinated for COVID-19 in the U.S.
On July 13, the FDA approved a new COVID-19 vaccine by a company called Novavax. This vaccine uses an older technology than the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. Instead of using messenger RNA (instructions that tell your cells how to create proteins), this vaccine contains copies of proteins that are found on the surface of the coronavirus. This technology has been used in other vaccines for decades. Like other COVID vaccines, it does not contain the actual virus. The Novavax vaccine is currently only approved for a primary vaccination series (first and second doses), not for boosters, so only people who are currently unvaccinated can get it for now. Clinical trials showed it was 90% effective in preventing illness from COVID-19, though these trials were done before the omicron variant.
As of July 27, 84% of Americans had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, 72% were fully vaccinated, and 50% were vaccinated and boosted. With billions of vaccine doses now given out across the globe, COVID-19 vaccines are still proving to be very safe and to provide solid protection against severe illness and death.
Booster Updates
The CDC now recommends that people who are eligible for a second booster dose get one, since it has been shown they offer extra protection for people in these groups against severe illness and death. As of July 2022, the people currently eligible are:
- People 50 or older who got their first booster at least 4 months ago
- People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, over 12 years
old, and got their first booster at least 4 months ago
It is also likely that more people will become eligible for a second booster in the near future. Vaccine companies are also working on boosters that will specifically target the omicron variant of the virus and its sub-variants.
Prison Health News 