Are COVID vaccines still effective?

While COVID vaccines should still provide some protection against the virus, studies show that the existing shots appear to be less effective against the currently circulating variants, according to CNN. But new vaccines are expected to roll out in the fall.

An advisory committee for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is recommending that Pfizer and Moderna update their vaccine formulas for the fall again, similar to how flu shots are updated annually. This time, the FDA wants the new shots to better match JN.1 and its descendants, like KP.2 and KP.3, which are also known as FLiRT variants. (The nickname isn’t scientists being funny, rather, it’s based on the technical names of their mutations, according to Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health).

What is the COVID situation in the country? What about in South Florida?

COVID-related ER visits have risen in the past week in the U.S., with a 25% increase in hospitalizations from May 26 to June 1, the most recent CDC data shows. Recent state health data also shows that more people have begun to test positive for COVID in Florida since late May, including in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

It’s difficult to say how many people are currently ill with COVID. Remember, COVID testing is no longer the best way to measure the disease spread since test sites are mostly gone and at-home test results don’t get reported. COVID hospitalizations remain a key indicator of the COVID situation.

At Jackson Health System, Miami-Dade’s public hospital system, there was “an all-time low number of inpatient cases” during April and May. The hospital said it began to see an uptick again in June, though it’s not enough to affect operations.

Memorial Healthcare System in Broward as also noticed a slight uptick in COVID cases recently. But the hospital is not seeing as many sick people as before, and doctors have a better grasp on how to treat patients too, said Eckardt. Like other hospitals, Memorial is also no longer testing every admitted patient for COVID.

The hospital says it has 91 inpatient COVID cases, about a 38% increase since the end of May, when it had 66 inpatient COVID cases, according to the most recent data.

Tips to stay healthy

The scorching heat is likely encouraging people to stay indoors, which could be helping the virus circulate. People are also traveling for the summer.

As people start making their July Fourth holiday and travel plans, Eckardt said it’s important to remember four key tips:

▪ Stay up-to-date with COVID vaccines.

▪ Wash your hands frequently.

▪ Consider wearing a mask if you’re planning to be in a crowded area, especially if you’re immunocompromised.

▪ If you feel sick, get tested and seek treatment, if needed.

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