Epidemiologist Michael Osterholm has issued dire warnings about the potential spread of the most contagious new variants of Covid-19, saying that they could produce an increase in cases in the United States at levels “that we have not yet seen in this country”.
Dr. Osterholm, who is director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota and a member of President Biden’s transition team who advises on coronavirus, said Meet the press Presenter Chuck Todd, who expects to see cases of the new Covid-19 variants appearing “in the next six to 14 weeks”. As a result, he said the United States may need to make a major change in its vaccination strategy, focusing on administering the first dose of the vaccine to as many people as possible, instead of trying to get people to receive the second dose.
“We still want to receive two doses in all, but I think that now, before this increase, we need to take as much of a dose in as many people over 65 as possible, to reduce serious illnesses and deaths that will occur in the coming weeks”, said Osterholm.
Osterholm predicted that B117, the most contagious strain of the virus that is sweeping England and found in pockets of the United States, will become the dominant strain of the virus in the country. “If we see that happen, what my 45 years in the trenches tell us that we will see, we will see something that we have not yet seen in this country,” he said. “This hurricane is coming. We need to understand that, due to this increase, we have to call an audible. “
The epidemiologist said that if we see an outbreak of the new variant this spring, it will be worse than previous outbreaks. “We saw our health care system literally on the verge of not being able to provide care,” said Osterholm. “Imagine if we have what happened in England, twice as many cases. That’s what we have to prepare for now. “
However, there is good news with England’s tension. So far, vaccines appear to be relatively effective in combating B117. “Fortunately, [B117 strain] has not demonstrated its ability to escape protection from the vaccine, ”he said. “But its ability to cause many more infections and many more serious illnesses exists.”
Other variants, such as those seen in South Africa and Brazil, said Osterholm, pose other potential concerns because “they may, in fact, lead to the evasion of immune protection from natural diseases or [the] vaccine. “But, pointed out Osterholm, in the Johnson & Johnson vaccine trial in South Africa,“ no one who had the variant infection that was vaccinated died.
Osterholm emphasized that he knows that many are feeling the fatigue of the pandemic and also the economic tension, which has led some states to loosen restrictions on activities such as meals indoors. But with the new strains of viruses, Osterholm believes that these openings will be reversed soon. “As fast as we are opening restaurants, we will probably close them in the short term,” he said.
So, how can you protect yourself? Osterholm recommended focusing on simple things you can do, such as wearing a mask that fits and wearing it properly. “One thing that is really important to me is that we see up to 25% of people using [their mask] under their nose, ”he said. “You know, this is like fixing three of the five doors on your submarine … We need to get people to start using them right. This would help tremendously at that point. “