A brand new COVID variant referred to as XEC has been spreading across the globe as respiratory virus season begins — and lots of public well being consultants are involved a couple of sample of troublingly low COVID and flu vaccination charges lately.
The XEC pressure, a extremely contagious omicron subvariant, was first detected in Germany in June and has since proliferated throughout Europe.
Whereas the XEC variant seems to be extremely contagious, public well being officers say its signs and severity appear to be just like different COVID subvariants which can be in circulation.
“It has been rising fairly quickly (in Europe),” stated Dr. Scott Roberts, assistant professor in infectious ailments on the Yale College of Drugs. “However behaviorally, there’s no indication it’s inflicting adjustments in signs in any approach. It appears to be like extra transmissible, however plenty of that is because of the truth that it’s barely extra distinct than the present variants.”
Erin Newcomer, a genomic epidemiologist at Rush College System for Well being, stated that XEC is taken into account a recombinant pressure, which implies “it’s a mixture of two strains that have been already out and about.”
“Whereas the pressure is new, not one of the options of the pressure are new,” she stated.
Newcomer added that the XEC pressure has “simply began to pop up” within the Chicago space lately and in low ranges, making up 3% to five% of the virus circulating domestically.
The pressure is estimated to account for about 11% of the virus circulating nationwide, with charges slightly greater on the West Coast, based on the newest Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention replace.
Well being consultants are urging the general public to get the up to date 2024-25 COVID vaccine in addition to the seasonal flu shot, as respiratory virus season begins this month.
Permitted in late August, the brand new COVID shot targets an omicron subvariant of the virus that was dominant on the time of its formulation and is just like presently circulating strains, based on the CDC.
“As of some days in the past, we now have some preliminary knowledge exhibiting the vaccine on this fall’s pressure does produce antibodies that may goal XEC,” Roberts stated. “It’s not an ideal match, as a result of it’s extra mutated than what the vaccine was focused to … but it surely nonetheless elicits a point of neutralizing antibodies towards XEC. In order that’s excellent news.”
Nationwide, about 6% of American adults have reported receiving the 2024-25 up to date COVID vaccine as of the tip of September, based on the CDC.
Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck, chief working officer of the Cook dinner County Division of Public Well being, estimated that lower than 1% of eligible residents in suburban Cook dinner County have taken the newest up to date COVID-19 vaccine. The county well being division famous that it’s simply the beginning of the season and the up to date shot has solely been accessible for just a few weeks; uptake for the earlier shot was about 14%.
Hasbrouck urged everybody eligible to get the up to date COVID shot and a seasonal flu vaccine as quickly as attainable, noting that each will be taken on the identical time.
“There’s been a vaccine fatigue,” he stated. “Of us simply aren’t taking it as severely as a result of we aren’t seeing the deaths as a lot. … I feel People simply aren’t into the vaccines as a result of the worst is over and so many individuals live with COVID and the flu, and so they really feel inconvenienced. It’s simply not that top a precedence for folk.”
The Chicago Division of Public Well being and the Cook dinner County Division of Public Well being lately introduced a sequence of COVID and flu vaccination clinics at numerous areas throughout the world.
Town well being division has additionally focused 5 communities most impacted by the flu and COVID within the earlier respiratory virus season — West Garfield Park, West Englewood, Burnside, Hermosa and McKinley Park — to attempt to enhance vaccine uptake in these areas, stated Dr. Olusimbo ‘Simbo’ Ige, Chicago’s well being commissioner, throughout a Friday information convention.
“We’re going to be doing hyperlocal, focused outreach efforts to enhance flu and COVID vaccination uptake for the 2024-2025 season,” she stated.
COVID charges and hospitalizations have lately been declining domestically following a spike in instances in the course of the late summer time and early fall throughout a lot of the U.S., based on CDC knowledge.
Uptake of the earlier COVID vaccine was typically low in Illinois and across the nation, although charges tended to be greater for older populations.
Nationwide, lower than 1 / 4 of American adults obtained the 2023-2024 COVID shot, based on the CDC.
About 17% of Chicago residents of all ages have been updated on the earlier COVID vaccination, based on the town well being division’s vaccine dashboard, which incorporates knowledge reported by way of Aug. 31.
Charges have been decrease for metropolis residents of coloration, with roughly 11% of Latino and Black residents updated on their COVID pictures in 2023-24; uptake was additionally low for youngsters, teenagers and younger adults. Older residents have been extra prone to get vaccinated towards COVID, with 40% of these over 75 and about 35% of these 65 to 74 getting the up to date shot, the info confirmed.
Throughout Illinois, slightly over 14% of residents of all ages obtained the 2023-24 shot, based on Illinois Division of Public Well being knowledge. Charges have been decrease for youngsters in comparison with adults, with these 65 and older being the most definitely to get vaccinated statewide.
The CDC additionally advises everybody 6 months and older to get an annual flu shot, with uncommon exceptions; the company recommends that individuals get vaccinated towards the flu in September or October.
“Ideally, everybody ought to be vaccinated by the tip of October,” the CDC states.
Throughout the nation, about 12% of adults reported receiving a 2024-25 flu shot as of late September, based on the CDC.
However flu shot uptake has additionally declined lately.
About 45% of American adults have been vaccinated towards the flu in 2023-24, a lower from virtually 47% the earlier yr, based on the CDC. Roughly 55% of kids bought a flu vaccine in the course of the 2023-24 season, down from 57% the earlier season.
Physicians and well being consultants have been notably involved about declining influenza vaccination charges of kids following a rash of pediatric flu deaths in the course of the earlier respiratory virus season.
200 American youngsters died of the flu in 2023-24, exceeding the earlier file of 199 pediatric deaths in the course of the 2019-20 respiratory virus season, the CDC has reported.
The deaths in 2023-24 included 158 youngsters who have been eligible for the flu vaccine and their vaccination standing was recognized; of these children, 131 weren’t absolutely vaccinated, based on the CDC.
“Flu vaccination will be lifesaving for youngsters and has been proven in a number of research to scale back the severity of sickness in individuals,” the CDC stated in a September report. “September and October are good occasions to be vaccinated.”
Immunizations that shield towards respiratory syncytial virus or RSV are additionally accessible for seniors and a few pregnant individuals; infants and a few youngsters may also get an RSV antibody.
Adults 75 or older are eligible for the RSV vaccine and people 60 to 74 with elevated threat of RSV must also get the shot; those that took the vaccine final yr don’t must get one other RSV shot this yr, based on the CDC.
eleventis@chicagotribune.com
