1/11/2022- 9:55 a.m.
Ohio – Hospitalizations of American children under 5 with COVID-19 soared in recent weeks to their highest level of the pandemic, and omicron is now dominant COVID-19 variant in the country.
Cleveland.com is rounding up some of the most notable coronavirus news making headlines online. Here’s what you need to know for Tuesday, Jan. 11.
Hospitalizations increasing among children too young for COVID-19 vaccine
Hospitalizations of American children under 5 with COVID-19 soared in recent weeks to their highest level since the pandemic began, according to recently released government data. Children under 5 are the only age group not yet eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.
As the highly contagious omicron variant spreads across the country, the hospitalization rate in these young children has surged to more than 4-in-100,000 children, up from 2.5-in-100,000, since mid-December.
This emphasizes the need for older kids and adults to get their shots to help protect others, said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Overall, “pediatric hospitalizations are at their highest rate compared to any prior point in the pandemic,” Walensky said.
Omicron is now dominant variant in U.S.
The COVID-19 omicron variant now makes up nearly all sequenced cases in the United States, driving a massive spike of infections that is placing a strain on the healthcare system.
Omicron represented 95% of sequenced COVID-19 cases in the United States during the week ending Jan. 1. The once-dominant delta variant is now only 4.6% of sequenced cases, according to the CDC.
At the beginning of December, omicron represented less than 1% of sequenced cases, while delta made up 99% of them.
The CDC regularly analyzes genetic sequences in coronavirus specimens to identify new variants, in order to determine which strains of the virus are in circulation.
Fourth COVID-19 vaccine shot may be needed, Moderna CEO says
Americans may need a fourth COVID-19 vaccine shot in the fall to increase their protection against the illness, Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said recently. The efficacy of boosters is likely to decrease over time, Bancel said.
“I will be surprised when we get that data in the coming weeks that it’s holding nicely over time — I would expect that it’s not going to hold great,” Bancel said, referring to the strength of the booster shots.
The Moderna chief was interviewed by Goldman Sachs during the investment bank’s health-care CEO conference.
People who got booster shots last fall will likely have enough protection to get them through the winter, when new infections surge as people gather indoors. But the efficacy of boosters will probably decline over several months, similar to what happened with the first two doses, Bancel said.
