Immunologists push for increase in testing and more widespread vaccine booster rollout as new variant, XEC, emerges

Immunologists push for increase in testing and more widespread vaccine booster rollout as new variant, XEC, emerges

Covid is on the rise in England, and experts have warned that more must be done to prevent and control infections after a “capitulation to the virus”.

Prof Danny Altmann, an immunologist at Imperial College London, said those working in the field were perplexed by the current attitude to the battle against Covid, as the latest figures showed an increase in hospital admissions.

The latest data for England from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) showed that hospital admissions increased to 3.71 per 100,000 population for the week between 16 and 22 September 2024, compared with 2.56 per 100,000 the previous week.

The percentage of people with symptoms who have tested positive for Covid, based on tests at sentinel “spotter” laboratories, has also risen in the last week to 11.8% compared with 9.1% in the previous week.

  • moxEnglish
    30•5 hours ago

    Our capitulation to the virus is a combination of a population where most are now many months or years from their last vaccine dose, and that vaccine dose was in any case poorly cross-protective for the very distinct current variants.

    I think most people don’t realize just how important that first part is. Many seem to believe a dose will keep them safe (and no longer dangerous to others) for at least a year, but that’s a mistake. Even our best Covid vaccines don’t protect for years or decades like the vaccines we’re accustomed to from childhood.

    Immunity from these new shots wanes rapidly, reaching less than 20% effectiveness after just 6 months.

    • @acosmichippoEnglish
      5•3 hours ago

      i think the unfortunate reality is that most people are never going to get yearly-ish vaccines.

      UNLESS it’s made very easy for them, like at work. that’s what i would be pushing for as an employer, its in my best interest to keep my employees healthy after all. bring in a provider to give shots for free in the office.

      my wife works for a fairly liberal non profit. luckily they are mostly remote now, but they have a massive conference coming up soon and i am shocked that they haven’t been encouraging vaccines leading up to it. i mention to my wife every year she should suggest it but it never seems to go anywhere.

      • @insaneinthemembraneEnglish
        2•2 hours ago

        In my country the vaccine is unavailable publicly or privately to most people. I’m considering travelling to try to buy it. It’s fucking insane. I can buy a vaccine for pretty much anything else.

    • Rhaedas
      12•5 hours ago

      Keep in mind that being immunized protects you from developing worse conditions, not from getting it at all. Which also means you can absolutely be a carrier to others, you just won’t have it at a bad level for as long to be contagious. And the new strain is apparently more contagious (but possibly less of the rest) this time. Just wanted to add that in, because some people read the “immun” part and assume they can’t get anything. Avoiding infection is always the best way, with vaccination as protection if/when you do get it anyway.