Dealing with post-pandemic COVID-19
Q: So, there’s no more COVID-19 emergency, but it’s still out there. I have the original vaccine and boosters. What do I need to do to continue being protected? -- Amy T., Fort Worth, Texas
A: The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency has ended in the U.S., even though from April 27 to May 3 there were 1,109 deaths from COVID-19, most in folks over age 75. Clearly, while it’s no longer the crisis it was -- because of vaccination, changes in the virus, acquired immunity -- it remains a concern for some folks. People in nursing homes are still contending with COVID-19, although the death rate is half of what it was in January of this year. And if you’re medically compromised (at any age) taking precautions against infection is still vital.
For everyone, getting the original vaccine and boosters was wise. But as for the updated bivalent vaccine ... It seems that if you get the initial vaccine and boosters and then add on the latest bivalent MRNA booster, your immune system may be triggered to ignore the virus instead of react to it. This appears to happen in part because it switches your immune response to nonprotective IGG4, which induces tolerance -- like allergy shots do. And a study of employees at the Cleveland Clinic, finds that “the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine booster was 30% effective in preventing infection ...” and if it was received after having been vaccinated and boosted with the monovalent vaccine, it substantially INCREASED the risk of infection with Omicron -- sometimes, more than tripling the risk.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does say something different. They recommend that if you’re 65 or older and it’s been four months since your last jab, get a booster. As I said, we disagree, but that only means you need to talk to your practitioner to have the choice personalized to you.
Now about social interaction ... Isolation fuels poor health. If you and your posse are vaccinated and symptom free, get together. In crowds -- mask if you want. But rejoin the world.