Variants and new infections: The complex COVID-19 landscape in the United States

The arrival of autumn brings the risk of new COVID-19 infections in the United States (REUTERS/Dado Ruvic)

In the United Statesas the time approaches Fall respiratory virus seasonmany inhabitants could face the crisis again. COVID-19For some, this might be the second, third or even fourth time who contract the virus, according to a report published by USA Today.

The severity of a new infection by COVID-19 depends on various personal and environmental factors, such as agelas pre-existing medical conditionshe vaccination status and the variants in circulationaccording to medical specialists.

“There is really no guarantee of what will happen if you get reinfected with COVID”he said in an interview with USA Today Raynard Washingtondirector of the county health department Mecklenburg, North Carolina and president of the Big Cities Health Coalition.

Common symptoms of Covid-19 reinfection include fever and muscle aches (Ilvy Njiokiktjien/The New York Times)

Among the most common symptoms of a COVID-19 reinfection fever, muscle pain and sore throat are found, according to the Dr. Robert Hopkins, Jr.medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. Other symptoms that are now less common include loss of taste and smell..

The onset and severity of symptoms may depend on the immunity of the individual. According to experts, a healthy young man who has received all recommended doses of the vaccine You may experience milder illness on your second or third reinfection. However, this is not universal.

Severe infections are more likely to occur in people who are unvaccinated, older, immunocompromised or have multiple chronic conditions. “But I also see infections in people who are young and otherwise healthy. As much as I would like to say we have good predictors, we really don’t,” she said. Hopkins.

Vaccination reduces the risk of hospitalization and severe symptoms (Kevin Mohatt/The New York Times)

Some studies suggest that Americans are less likely to develop COVID prolonged by the omicron variant compared to previous strains of the virus. However, more data are needed to confirm this trend due to the lack of sufficient time to study them thoroughly.

Still, there is always a risk of developing Long COVID with each new infectionaccording to Hopkins: “The more infections you have, the more times you throw away data, and the more risk you run.“he explained. Studies have shown that COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of developing long COVIDhence Health experts strongly recommend getting the updated vaccine when it becomes available..

Regarding the role of the vaccinationthe U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the latest version of the COVID-19 vaccine directed to the variant Omicron KP.2 for vaccines Nail wax de Moderna y Pfizer Comirnaty. Both use messenger RNA technology.

The FDA has approved vaccines against the Omicron variant for all ages. The CDC recommends the new dose starting at six months of age (Shutterstock)

In Junelos Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) They recommended the new one vaccine for all Americans from six months of age. The main chains of Pharmacies expect to receive the doses in the next few days. In addition to reducing the risk of Long COVIDhealth experts indicate that Getting vaccinated reduces the risk of severe symptoms that could lead to hospitalization or death.

“The great victory of these vaccines is that they reduce the severity of the disease and save lives,” Washington said. “Vaccines protect us from the start, giving our bodies the best chance of effectively fighting the virus.”