The current strains appear much less severe than the original omicron variant, and most people’s immune systems can handle the virus, especially if they’re vaccinated. People with compromised immune systems are at higher risk for severe complications.“People with underlying health issues need to be diligent about their safety,” said Steve Love, Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council president and CEO.
Immunity from the latest updated COVID-19 vaccine, formulated to target the omicron variant, is likely waning. A new booster dose targeting XBB.1.5 could receive Food and Drug Administration authorization by the end of August, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in anThe extreme heat could also be at fault. Texans congregating indoors to escape record-high temperatures are more likely to spread the virus than if they were outside.
Some viruses evolve to spread during seasons where they have little competition. It’s possible, Perl said, that new COVID variants could be better suited for times like the summer so that they don’t have to fight diseases like the flu or respiratory syncytial virus.