Oregon is expected to see another spike in COVID-19 cases in June, Oregon’s top health official said Thursday.
Dr. Dean Seidlinger, chief epidemiologist for the Oregon Department of Health, said two variants, named XBB.1.16 and XBB.1.9, have been sweeping other countries, particularly India, but the Oregon virus has not. said DNA analysis had not yet found it. But the state expects them to emerge, with cases spiked in June and peaking at the end of the month. That forecast could change, he said.
“This is a long-term projection from a COVID perspective, and we expect the numbers to adjust in the coming months as we learn more about infections from these variants,” Sidelinger said at a press conference. said.
Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved the latest boosters from Moderna and Pfizer designed to combat Omicron’s spin-offs like two new variants. Shots should be available in Oregon, possibly as early as this week, Health Authority spokesman Jonathan Modi told the Capital Chronicle.
Vaccination is only allowed for people over the age of 65 or those over the age of 5 who have a weakened immune system 4 months after their last dose. Scientists say the new variant is the most contagious to date and can cause more severe symptoms.
According to Modie, about 400,000 people have qualified for renewed boosters.
Sidelinger expects a new shot to be recommended to all Oregonians in the fall.
Nearly 80% of adults in Oregon have received one dose of COVID vaccination and 70% have completed the series. However, less than one in four of her adults receive boosters.
Nonetheless, Seidlinger said the pandemic has passed and life has mostly returned to normal.
“We will still see infections,” he said. “We continue to recommend wearing a mask occasionally to protect those around you who are at higher risk of severe COVID consequences. Some settings, such as health care facilities, still have policies requiring the wearing of masks. There may be.”
The Federal Public Health Emergency ends on May 11th. This means the end of federal pandemic support, including vaccine subsidies.
Pfizer said last year it planned to sell its COVID vaccine for $110 to $130 per dose. The vaccine is on the CDC’s Adult and Child Vaccine Schedule, so it will be covered by insurance, but patients may face out-of-pocket costs. Seidlinger said it could happen.
“We have plans to ensure a smooth transition to a commercialized COVID-19 vaccine,” Sidelinger said.
Sidelinger said federal officials plan to allocate funds to help people who don’t have insurance pay for the injections.
The Oregon Department of Health does not plan to hold a vaccine event. Booster doses should be available through the Oregon health care system, local public health officials, community-based organizations, and federally-approved health centers and pharmacies.
electronic vaccine cardUsed by tens of thousands of Oregonians as proof of vaccination. Sidelinger advised Oregonians to get their qualifying shots or boosters by then.
To date, the state has recorded nearly 973,000 COVID cases and 9,530 deaths. There will be more, Sidelinger said.
The number of hospitalizations has slowed over the past year, falling below 200 on March 20 for the first time since May last year, Seidlinger said. As of Tuesday, 172 hospitalized patients had been infected with his COVID. This compares to the state’s peak of 1,178 people hospitalized with COVID on Sept. 1, 2021.
“We’ve come a long way,” said Sidelinger.
Health officials are not planning regular briefings on COVID.
“We can now return to the activities and functions we enjoyed before the pandemic began in early 2020, but to protect our own health and the health of those around us, we have made some changes. may continue.
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