The third 12 months of the COVID-19 pandemic within the United States launched vaccines for very younger youngsters and an up to date booster, plus wider availability of an antiviral drug and at-home antigen assessments. Here’s what we’ve discovered since these achievements first made a splash.
Shots for the littlest children
On June 18, the COVID-19 vaccine was beneficial for youngsters underneath 5, the final group within the United States ready for the pictures (SN Online: 6/17/22). The thumbs-up was supported by immunity and security information and the clear-and-present well being dangers of COVID-19 for younger children.
Update: Many younger youngsters within the United States are nonetheless unvaccinated. Only 11 p.c of these 6 months via 4 years outdated, or 1.8 million youngsters, had obtained at the least one dose as of December 7. A survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor performed in mid-July explored some causes for the lackluster response, together with considerations that the vaccine hasn’t been examined sufficient.
There are additionally limitations to getting the vaccine, with 44 p.c of Black dad and mom frightened about taking day off from work to vaccinate younger children or care for them if they’ve unwanted side effects. Among Hispanic dad and mom surveyed, 45 p.c are involved they gained’t have the choice to vaccinate at a spot they belief.
A brand new booster
An up to date COVID-19 vaccine grew to become obtainable as a booster within the United States in early September for these 12 and older, and for these 5 to 12 years outdated in mid-October (SN: 10/8/22 & 10/22/22, p. 7). The vaccine, which targets two omicron subvariants in addition to the unique model of SARS-CoV-2, was designed to spur a broader immune response, defending in opposition to extra variations of the virus.
Update: Just 13.5 p.c of individuals within the United States ages 5 and older, or 42 million folks, had gotten the up to date bivalent booster by December 7. In a survey performed in September, half of U.S. adults had heard little or nothing in regards to the new booster, underscoring the necessity for extra public outreach. President Joe Biden, who had COVID-19 in July, obtained his up to date vaccine on October 25 and introduced new measures to get extra boosters into arms. A examine of U.S. adults, reported in November, discovered that the up to date booster offered added safety in opposition to symptomatic COVID-19 in those that had already gotten at the least two doses of the unique vaccine.
At-home COVID-19 assessments
Early in 2022, the usage of at-home COVID-19 assessments soared in response to the winter omicron surge (SN Online: 1/11/22). From January to September, the Biden administration mailed roughly 600 million free assessments to folks’s properties.
Update: At-home antigen assessments are fast and simple, although the steerage on interpret the outcomes has modified. With information that repeat testing improved the probabilities of detecting a SARS-CoV-2 an infection, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration beneficial in August that folks with and with out signs who had been uncovered to the virus and examined destructive take further assessments over the subsequent a number of days.
A downside to at-home assessments is that the outcomes haven’t been systematically tallied, resulting in an undercount of circumstances. Estimates range on what number of circumstances have been missed. One analysis group calculated that in New York City between April 23 and May 8, round 1.5 million adults had COVID-19, practically 30 occasions as many because the official case rely of 51,218.
A brand new drug
The antiviral Paxlovid — licensed on the finish of 2021 — grew to become one of some COVID-19 remedy choices in capsule type. A examine revealed in April reported that Paxlovid lowered the chance of extreme COVID-19 by 89 p.c in contrast with a placebo (SN Online: 5/11/22).
Update: In July, the FDA licensed pharmacists to prescribe Paxlovid to get the drug extra shortly to extra folks, because it must be taken early in an an infection. A examine performed throughout the omicron surge recommended that the drug is useful for these 65 and older however is just not useful to these 40 to 64.
Paxlovid additionally made information this 12 months when reviews popped up of COVID-19 signs returning after remedy with the drug ended (SN Online: 8/12/22). It’s not clear how widespread so-called Paxlovid rebound is. Some analysis has discovered the incidence is comparable amongst Paxlovid-treated and placebo-treated sufferers, whereas different researchers have reported that rebound happens extra usually with Paxlovid than with no remedy.
There’s additionally early proof that Paxlovid could scale back the chance of creating lengthy COVID. A preliminary examine of U.S. veterans reported in November that remedy with Paxlovid inside 5 days of a constructive COVID-19 take a look at was related to a 26 p.c discount in threat of lengthy COVID in contrast with a bunch that didn’t obtain antiviral remedy after an an infection.