Covid Cases Rise Again in the US as Children Return to School and Officials Restrict Booster Shots

Covid cases are increasing in the US, with children returning to school and officials planning to restrict booster shots. While cases are rising less quickly than at the start of other surges, it is too soon to tell how big the current late-summer wave could get, and with highly varied immune responses from prior infections and vaccinations, it is difficult to know how severe illness could be, experts say. The risks of a wave are compounded by new vaccine restrictions from the Trump administration, which may limit access to booster shots for those who need them most.

Key Takeaways:

• Covid cases are increasing in 26 US states, especially in the south and midwest, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• The variants currently spreading around the globe have known immune-evasion properties, making it difficult to predict the severity of the current wave.
• Experts warn that future waves could become more severe as vaccination lags and immunity drops.
• The Trump administration's restrictions on booster shots may limit access to vaccination for those who need it most, including children and adults with pre-existing conditions.
• A new, more effective Covid shot from Moderna and the Covid shot from Novavax were approved only for people over 65 or people over the age of 12 with health conditions.
• Health officials have called for placebo trials for the boosters to judge their benefit to people without pre-existing conditions, but such trials would be unethical and extremely difficult to conduct.
• Antivirals like Paxlovid could see wider use, but a program to make Paxlovid more affordable to those who need it is slated to end in December.
• An estimated 35,000 to 54,000 people in the US have died of Covid since October, and children continue to see hospitalization rates from Covid similar to previous years.
• Covid cases can be less severe due to immunity, but without boosters, people become more susceptible to severe illness and death.
• Some 23% of adults had received updated Covid boosters as of April, and about 5.6% of children aged six months to four years are vaccinated against Covid.
• Even in times of lower transmission, Covid still circulates, with 149 deaths in the week ending June 28, the last week for which the CDC shares full mortality data.

Statistics:

• 26 US states are experiencing increased Covid cases, especially in the south and midwest.
• 35,000 to 54,000 people in the US have died of Covid since October.
• 23% of adults had received updated Covid boosters as of April.
• 5.6% of children aged six months to four years are vaccinated against Covid.
• 15% of children aged five to 17 are vaccinated against Covid.
• 149 deaths in the week ending June 28, the last week for which the CDC shares full mortality data.
• 5.3% of all adults in the US said they were currently experiencing long-term Covid symptoms as of September.

Sources:

• Andrew Pekosz, virologist at Johns Hopkins University
• Sam Scarpino, professor of health sciences at Northeastern University
• US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Moderna
• Novavax
• Pfizer
• The New York Times