By Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle The Tribune Content Agency
As winter approaches, health officials in the Bay Area are strongly encouraging residents to get vaccinated soon against both coronavirus and influenza.
This is the ideal time for people to roll up their sleeves and get the shots in light of an expected winter respiratory virus surge, particularly due to the emergence of the XEC variant.
"October is the perfect time to vaccinate against respiratory viruses like COVID-19, flu and RSV," Marin County's health department wrote in an update. "As temperatures drop and people spend more time indoors, the risk of transmission increases."
Since the peak of California's summer COVID surge in August, overall COVID-19 activity has remained relatively low. Recent data from state and federal health authorities show a decline in hospitalizations and a sharp decrease in the concentration of the virus in wastewater.
However, following a significant summer swell driven by the omicron KP family - nicknamed the FLiRT variants - health experts are now bracing for the more contagious XEC strain to dominate as colder weather sets in.
"CDC expects the fall and winter respiratory disease season will likely have a similar or lower number of combined peak hospitalizations due to COVID-19, influenza, and RSV compared to last season," the agency said in its most recent 2024-2025 respiratory disease season outlook.
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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that XEC has become the second most prevalent strain in the country, accounting for more than 10% of cases.
While the symptoms associated with XEC resemble those of previous variants, the new virus offshoot appears to have an advantage over the variants that contributed to the summer surge.
For now, trends indicate a continued decline in hospitalizations, test positivity rates and deaths.
In California, COVID-19 viral activity in wastewater has decreased from "very high" levels in early August to "low" as of early October. Meanwhile, deaths - a lagging indicator - have stabilized after a steady increase since June, according to state data.
The timing of this decrease coincides with the rollout of updated vaccines designed to enhance immunity as winter approaches.
For most people, experts recommend getting vaccinated in late October.
"This is because flu season can start as early as November," according to the San Francisco Department of Public Health. "It is safe to get the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as the flu vaccine."
All California residents 6 months and older are eligible for a flu and COVID-19 vaccine.
While the XEC variant continues to gain traction, early indications suggest it does not present any unique symptoms or more severe illness than its predecessors.
Because it is part of the omicron family, which has been driving the COVID-19 pandemic since 2021, the new vaccines are expected to be effective against it.
Common symptoms of the XEC variant
The symptoms associated with the XEC strain are largely consistent with those of prior variants. These include:
XEC's major advantage is that it has tighter binding cells that may make it potentially more evasive and transmissible than earlier omicron strains.
Staying updated with the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine is important because protection from previous vaccination or infection declines over time, according to the CDC. So far, only about 12% of eligible adults nationally and 14.5% in California have gotten the new shots.
Vaccination timing and recommendations
For those who have recently had COVID-19, it is advisable to wait at least three months before getting vaccinated again.
This period allows for a natural reduction in the risk of reinfection, as the likelihood of contracting COVID-19 is generally lower in the weeks and months following a SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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However, certain factors may require some people to get vaccinated sooner, including a personal risk of severe illness, exposure to vulnerable household members or high local transmission rates.
For individuals who recently received the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine, most should wait a minimum of two months before receiving the 2024-2025 vaccine, the CDC says.
Exceptions apply to specific groups, such as children aged 6 months to 4 years, people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised, and those who received a Novavax shot for their initial vaccination series.
The recommended COVID-19 vaccines for the 2024-2025 season include the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines for everyone aged 6 months and older, and the Novavax vaccine for individuals aged 12 years and older.
The new Pfizer and Moderna shots were formulated to target the KP.2 strain, while the Novavax vaccine aimed for JN.1.
Most people should be able to receive the updated vaccine without out-of-pocket cost through their regular health care provider or a pharmacy included with their insurance plan, such as CVS or Walgreens. Local resources are also available that provide free or low-cost vaccinations for those without insurance.
Reach Aidin Vaziri: [email protected]