Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 appear to escape antibody responses among both people who had previous Covid-19 infection and those who have been fully vaccinated and boosted, according to new data from researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, of Harvard Medical School. Read Article
“I’m not afraid to say that I cried,” recalled Stephenson, a researcher at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Read Article
“Ongoing transmission of BA.2 is probably related both to the increased transmissibility of the virus together with the reduction of pandemic restrictions,” says Dan Barouch. Read Article
In the face of waning antibody immunity to the coronavirus, scientists demand more attention on T cell immunity which may be more durable. Read article
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A lab study published last week found that vaccinated people who were infected with Omicron, a COVID-19 variant, had high levels of antibodies that would probably protect against BA.2. If the protection lasts, it could reduce the impact of a future surge, given the country’s high levels of infection this winter. Read Article
This week, Pfizer and Moderna asked the FDA to authorize fourth doses of their vaccines. Meanwhile, a new study shows protection from one J&J shot lasts at least six months. Read Article
While the number of cases of the Omicron variant has been decreasing over the past few weeks, health officials are concerned about the BA.2 variant, which appears to be more transmissible than the Omicron variant. Read Article
While the rise of another strain has some Americans stressed over the prospect of yet another wave of cases, it may not be time to panic just yet. Read Article
Officials mulling new pandemic policies need to know how quickly vaccine protection wanes. But scientists don’t have a clear answer. Read Article
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