According to recent reports, the number of COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles County and California as a whole has doubled within a month, and an obsolete vaccine could be the culprit behind this alarming trend.
Nurse practitioner Alice Benjamin advises individuals to verify if their previous vaccine was the latest one, as the older version may not protect against the new FLiRT variant. People must stay updated on the latest vaccines to ensure that they are safeguarded against any potential health risks.
According to Benjamin, if you received the vaccine in October or later, then you likely have the updated version. However, if you received it before October, it’s important to double-check because you may have received the bivalent vaccine, which has not yet been phased out. In that case, it’s recommended that you receive the updated version of the vaccine.
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According to Benjamin, individuals need to confirm whether they have been administered the monovalent vaccine from Pfizer or Moderna.
According to the nurse practitioner, there are several other factors during the summertime that could be contributing to the increase in COVID cases.
According to Benjamin, many individuals are not wearing masks, especially since they are not mandated in certain locations. As people begin to travel and enjoy the summer, their immunity may also decrease. Additionally, the efficacy of vaccines may decrease over time.
On March 11, 2020, COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. At that time, there had been over 118,000 confirmed cases and 4,291 deaths reported.
Benjamin stresses the importance of administering two vaccines to high-risk populations. The second dose should be given at least four months after the first.
The CDC advises that people aged 6 months or older receive at least one of the updated COVID-19 vaccines, according to Benjamin.
