CDC, increased infection risk in vaccinated

BA.2.86 may be more capable of causing infection in people who have previously had COVID-19 or who have received COVID-19 vaccines. New variant and vaccine escape Risk Assessment Summary for SARS CoV-2 Sublineage BA.2.86 https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/whats-new/covid-19-variant.html https://www.medscape.com/s/viewarticle/995810?ecd=wnl_recnlnew1_ous_230828_MSCPEDIT_etid5795536&uac=127834AR&impID=5795536 BA.2.86, detected in Denmark and Israel At least two cases in the United States. UK Health Security Agency, UK case, no recent travel history Cases not epidemiologically linked (therefore already widespread) Multiple genetic differences from previous SARS-CoV-2 Existing tests appear to be effective BA.2.86 may be more capable of causing infection in people who have previously had COVID-19 or who have received COVID-19 vaccines. ? stimulation of T suppressor (regulatory) cells ? stimulation of IgG4 https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciimmunol.adg7327 No evidence BA.2.86 causing more severe illness. Updated vaccines will be available as early as mid-September What can you do to protect yourself and others as we learn more? Get your COVID-19 vaccines, as recommended https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html COVID-19 Vaccines Are Safe, Effective, and Free Everyone 6 months and older should get an updated COVID-19 vaccine. BA.2.86 https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02656-9 Many spike protein changes (explain vaccine immune escape) Could out compete common EG.5 (Latest COVID-19 booster vaccines are based on XBB.1.5) Jesse Bloom, viral evolutionary biologist, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center Seattle, Washington “I don’t think anybody needs to be alarmed by this,” “The most likely scenario is that this variant fizzles out, and in a month nobody other than people like me even remember that it existed.” Even if BA.2.86 does becomes widespread, and proves adept at dodging neutralizing antibodies, which seems likely, on the basis of its set of spike mutations, other forms of immunity will probably stop most people from getting seriously ill if they are infected