A new report says COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles County and across California have doubled in less than a month, and outdated vaccines may be to blame.
Nurse practitioner Alice Benjamin said people should check that the last vaccine they received was up to date as older versions of the vaccine may not protect them against the new FLiRT variant.
“If you got it after October, it’s usually an updated vaccine,” Benjamin said. “If you got it before October, check back. If you got the bivalent vaccine that’s not being phased out, we recommend getting the updated vaccine.”
Specifically, Benjamin said people should pay attention to whether they have received the monovalent vaccines offered by Pfizer and Moderna.
The nurse added that several other factors could be driving up COVID-19 case numbers during the summer.
“People are not necessarily wearing masks. They’re not required in certain places,” Benjamin said. “We travel, we’re out in the summer, and our immunity is waning. The effectiveness of the vaccine will wane over time.”
The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic on March 11, 2020, after more than 118,000 reported cases and 4,291 deaths.
Benjamin stressed that for high-risk populations, two doses of the vaccine are recommended, with the second dose required to be given at least four months after the first.
“Per CDC recommendations, anyone 6 months of age or older should receive at least one current COVID vaccine,” Benjamin said.