A new variant of the coronavirus, called XEC, is spreading around the world as respiratory virus outbreaks begin, and many public health experts are concerned about recent coronavirus and influenza vaccination rates. I am concerned about a pattern that is lower than it should be.
The XEC strain, a highly contagious micron variant, was first detected in Germany in June and has since spread across Europe.
The XEC variant appears to be highly contagious, but public health officials say its symptoms and severity appear to be similar to other circulating coronavirus subvariants.
“Infectious diseases are increasing very rapidly[in Europe],” said Dr. Scott Roberts, assistant professor of infectious diseases at Yale School of Medicine. “But behaviorally, there’s no indication that it’s causing a change in symptoms in any way. It appears to be more transmissible, but a lot of that is due to the fact that it’s slightly more distinguishable than the current variant. .”
Erin Newcomer, a genomic epidemiologist at Rush University System for Health, said XEC is considered a recombinant strain, meaning it is “a mixture of two strains that are already in circulation.”
“Although this strain is new, none of the characteristics of the strain are new,” she said.
He added that the XEC strain has recently “started to emerge” in the Chicago area and is at low levels, accounting for 3% to 5% of the virus circulating locally.
The strain is estimated to account for about 11% of the virus circulating in the United States, with a slightly higher percentage on the West Coast, according to the latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As the respiratory virus begins to spread this month, medical experts are urging the public to not only get the seasonal flu shot, but also the latest 2024-25 coronavirus vaccine.
The new coronavirus vaccine, approved in late August, targets a micron subvariant of the virus that was prevalent at the time of its creation and similar to the currently circulating strain, according to the CDC.
Toko Njilani, a registered nurse, prepares to administer the coronavirus vaccine at the Ward 9 Vaccination Clinic at the Pullman Community Center in Chicago on October 10, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)
“As of a few days ago, we have some preliminary data showing that this fall strain of the vaccine produces antibodies that target XEC,” Roberts said. “It’s not a perfect match because there are more mutations than what the vaccine targets…but it still induces some neutralizing antibodies against XEC. So that’s good news.”
As of the end of September, about 6% of American adults reported having received the latest 2024-25 coronavirus vaccine, according to the CDC.
Dr. Lamar Hasbrouck, chief operating officer of the Cook County Department of Public Health, estimated that less than 1% of eligible residents in rural Cook County have received the latest COVID-19 vaccine. The county health department said it’s early in the season and the latest vaccines have only been available for a few weeks. Uptake for the last shot was about 14%.
Hasbrouck urged everyone who is eligible to receive the latest coronavirus vaccination and seasonal influenza vaccine as soon as possible, noting that it is possible to receive both at the same time.
“Vaccine fatigue is occurring,” he said. “People aren’t taking this issue as seriously because the death toll isn’t as high. …The reason Americans aren’t interested in the vaccine is because the worst is over and so many people are worried about the coronavirus and… I think it’s because they’re living with the flu and it’s an inconvenience, but it’s not really a priority for people.”
The Chicago Department of Public Health and the Cook County Department of Public Health recently announced that they will be holding a series of coronavirus and influenza vaccination clinics at various locations throughout the region.
He said the city health department also identified five areas most affected by influenza and COVID-19 during the last respiratory virus season: West Garfield Park, West Englewood, Burnside, Hermosa, McKinley Park) in an effort to increase vaccine uptake in those areas. Chicago Health Commissioner Olusimbo “Simbo” Ige during a press conference on Friday.
Chicago Health Commissioner Dr. Olusimbo Simbo-Ige during a press conference at the Ward 9 COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccination Clinic at the Pullman Community Center on October 10, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)
“We will conduct hyper-local and targeted outreach efforts to improve influenza and COVID-19 vaccination coverage for the 2024-2025 season,” she said. said.
After seeing a spike in cases in late summer and early fall across much of the United States, coronavirus infection rates and hospitalizations have been trending down locally in recent days, according to CDC data. That’s what it means.
Vaccination rates for the previous coronavirus vaccine were generally low in Illinois and across the nation, but vaccination rates tended to be higher among older people.
Nationally, less than a quarter of American adults received a coronavirus vaccine in 2023-2024, according to the CDC.
About 17% of Chicago residents of all ages are up-to-date on their last COVID-19 vaccination, according to the city Health Department’s vaccine dashboard, which includes data reported through Aug. 31. I had it.
Vaccination rates among urban residents of color are lower, with about 11% of Latino and Black residents receiving COVID-19 vaccinations in 2023-2024. Intakes among children, teens, and young adults were also lower. Older residents are more likely to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, with 40% of residents 75 and older and about 35% of residents 65 to 74 up to date, according to the data. It was shown that there is.
Across Illinois, just over 14% of residents of all ages will be vaccinated in 2023-2024, according to data from the Illinois Department of Public Health. Vaccine rates among children were lower than among adults, with people 65 and older most likely to be vaccinated across the state.
The CDC also recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older get an annual flu shot, with rare exceptions. The agency recommends getting a flu shot in September or October.
“Ideally, everyone should be vaccinated by the end of October,” the CDC says.
Nurse Donna Feaster administers a flu shot to Thomas Brown at the Ward 9 COVID-19 and Flu Vaccination Clinic at the Pullman Community Center on October 10, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)
As of late September, about 12% of adults nationwide reported receiving the 2024-25 flu shot, according to the CDC.
However, influenza vaccination rates have also decreased in recent years.
About 45% of U.S. adults will receive a flu shot in 2023-24, down from about 47% the year before, according to the CDC. About 55% of children received the influenza vaccine in the 2023-24 season, down from 57% the previous season.
Doctors and health experts are particularly concerned about declining influenza vaccination rates among children after a sharp increase in childhood influenza deaths during the last respiratory virus season.
The CDC reports that 200 children in the United States will die from influenza in 2023-2024, surpassing the previous record of 199 child deaths during the 2019-20 respiratory virus season.
The 2023-2024 deaths included 158 children who were eligible for influenza vaccination and whose vaccination status was known. According to the CDC, 131 of these children were not fully vaccinated.
The CDC said in a September report that “influenza vaccination can save children’s lives and some studies show that it reduces the severity of illness in people.” “September and October are good times to get vaccinated.”
Vaccinations to protect against respiratory syncytial virus and RSV are available to older people and some pregnant women. Infants and some children may also get RSV antibodies.
Adults 75 and older are eligible for the RSV vaccine, and people 60 to 74 who are at high risk for RSV should also get vaccinated. According to the CDC, people who were vaccinated last year do not need to receive a new RSV vaccine this year.
eleventis@chicagotribune.com
