L.A. coronavirus cases hit highest level in months as BA.4 and BA.5 bring reinfections
, is particularly notable because “prior infection — including an Omicron infection as recent as last month — no longer provides robust protection from reinfection.”Vaccinations and boosters remain “hugely valuable in preventing a severe case that might lead to hospital/death,”. “But its value in preventing a case of COVID, or preventing transmission, is now far less than it once was.”
If federal officials are still hamstrung by limited funds later this year, the autumn Omicron-specific vaccination may “only be available for a limited group of people,” perhaps only for those age 65 and over, Chin-Hong said. “It’s very unpleasant for many people,” Chin-Hong said. He said a colleague of his likely got infected from her children, and during her acute illness, “she couldn’t multitask anymore ... for a time, she was sort of at wit’s end not feeling normal for quite a few weeks.”
. Those age 50 and up, and some people age 12 and up with weakened immune systems, should get a second booster shot, the CDC says. By contrast, half a year ago, unvaccinated people were about three-and-a-half times as likely to test positive for the coronavirus compared to vaccinated-but-not-boosted people, according to L.A. CountyProtection against being hospitalized is still substantial for the vaccinated, but it has also weakened over time. Half a year ago, an unvaccinated person was 13 times as likely to be hospitalized with a coronavirus infection than a vaccinated person.
Many people are now getting their positive test results from at-home test kits whose results aren’t reported to officials. But “even if we’re doubling this number — so that we can account for those who tested using over-the-counter test kits — many fully vaccinated people have not yet been infected,” Ferrer said.
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