‘No evidence yet’ NYC coronavirus variant causes reinfection, impacts vaccines: health officials

New York City health officials on Monday stated there is no such thing as a evidence but to again issues {that a} coronavirus variant first detected within the metropolis threatens to scale back vaccine efficacy, results in reinfection, or inflicts extra extreme illness.

The feedback by town health commissioner, Dr. Dave Chokshi, and senior advisor for public health, Dr. Jay Varma, observe issues made over the weekend by former U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner, Dr. Scott Gottlieb. Gottlieb informed CBS’ “Face the Nation” it was unclear whether or not the B.1.526 variant was behind surging infections in components of Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island the place the positivity charge is nearing 15%.

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Gottlieb famous the New York variant shares a mutation with a regarding variant first detected in South Africa, which has proven to decrease vaccine efficacy, with documented cases of reinfection in beforehand contaminated people — albeit uncommon, although seemingly undercounted.

The metropolis health commissioner stated the New York variant seems to be “more infectious than other strains”, however there is not sufficient info to reply questions relating to elevated virulence, vaccine efficacy and reinfection.

“We do not yet have enough information to be able to answer those questions definitively,” Chokshi stated, later including, “thus far we do not have any evidence that indicates that it causes more severe disease, or leads to reinfection or will reduce the effectiveness of vaccines but we will continue to investigate this and keep the public updated on our findings.”

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Gottlieb pinned the uncertainty to beneath surveillance, or inadequate sequencing of instances, particularly amongst these vaccinated or beforehand contaminated. He stated officials want to start out sequencing instances “much more aggressively,” although metropolis health officials tried to guarantee the general public Monday that they’re in reality “carefully” analyzing the information, per Chokshi.

Varma additionally defended metropolis officials’ efforts in analyzing the information.

“There is concern absolutely that some variants, including the strains that are now more common here in New York City, may be less responsive to vaccines or you have less protection from prior infection,” Varma stated. “We have not seen that so far in our data, we have been analyzing it continuously…we have been looking very aggressively and actively…”

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Nevertheless, officials say the identical mitigation measures to stop an infection stay the identical; put on masks, apply correct distancing, preserve hand hygiene, get examined steadily and settle for the primary vaccine that turns into obtainable.

Citywide coronavirus instances, hospitalizations and deaths are all declining, in line with metropolis data. A seven-day common for each day infections stories 2,475 instances as of March 17, in comparison with a January peak topping 6,000.