CARY, N.C. — Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting a spike in COVID-19 cases across most of the U.S. In North Carolina, we are seeing slightly more cases than this time last year, according to data from our state’s Department of Health and Human Services.
Updated COVID-19 vaccines targeting more recently spread strains of the virus could help decrease the number of cases hospitals are seeing. The Food and Drug Administration could sign off on those updated vaccines as soon as this week.
In the meantime, as the FDA is waiting for the green light. Amanda Chay, who has lupus, said she’s happy to learn that new vaccines could be out sooner rather than later.
“I’m happy to hear that there’s a new update because there have been surging COVID cases all around us,” Chay said. “And I will also of course listen to my rheumatologist as someone who is immuno-compromised because her guidance is what I follow.”
Chay was new to being diagnosed with lupus when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit.
Amanda Chay, a lupus advocate, is happy to hear that updated COVID-19 vaccines could be coming out soon. (Spectrum News 1/Anissa Lopez)
“It was a very rough time for me physically, mentally, just dealing with this disease, diagnosis, and so, we added COVID to the mix, and people were dying all around, it was very frightening,” Chay said.
Over the years, she’s learned the best safety precautions to take as someone who is immuno-compromised. While she isn’t as scared of the virus now, she does take extra measures every time there’s a surge in COVID-19 cases.
“Wash our hands, if I need to be certainly within enclosed places like an airplane or I am going to a hospital I make sure to where a mask as well so I do what I can do,” Chay said.
Right now, we are experiencing a COVID-19 surge in cases. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said hospital admissions for COVID-like illness is up 150% since June. Dr. David Weber, a distinguished professor of medicine, pediatrics and epidemiology at UNC Chapel Hill, said there’s a couple of reasons we are seeing this.
“We have a new variant to the KP set of variants. They are most importantly the KP3 type variants we are seeing, and these do escape somewhat from natural immunity, meaning you’ve had COVID or from vaccine-induced immunity,” Weber said. “The second reason is waning of vaccine immunity; that is the vaccine coverage with the XBB monovalent vaccine, which is one we are currently using.”
Weber said the University of Carolina Medical Center is seeing an increased number of patients and COVID-19 cases, having more than 25 patients on any given day in the last week. But with talks of an updated COVID-19 vaccine rolling out soon, Chay and Weber are optimistic that it will help decrease the number of cases we are seeing.
“I’m happy to hear that there is something new out there because it’s been quite a while that I have heard about an update with the COVID vaccine,” Chay said.
“I do think it will be very effective against the current variant and of course CDC does recommend that unless you have had a recent booster that anyone over six months of age should receive the new KP monovalent vaccine,” Weber said.
Weber added that for people who are at high risk that develop respiratory symptoms, similar to COVID, they should get tested.