The CDC reports an estimated 900,000 incident cases of COVID each day.  This is based on U.S. wastewater data and projections for medical and hospital presentations.  Currently most new cases involve KP.3 and KP.3.1.1 variants derived from JN.1 that was prevalent during the winter of 2023-2024.  These variants are responsible for reoccurring COVID with some individuals having been infected at least three times. The mild clinical presentation from this variant does not appear to induce the chronic symptoms referred to as “long COVID”.  Because the SARS-Cov-19 virus has undergone numerous mutations since its emergence in 2020, previous vaccinations provide inadequate protection.  The virus is unfortunately evolving as immune response wanes.

Epidemiologists including Dr. Katelyn Jetalina, author of Your Local Epidemiologist points to the fallacy of FDA assuming that COVID interacts with populations in the same way as influenza, requiring a seasonal vaccination in the fall. In reality the virus is constantly undergoing mutation, requiring boosters at more frequent intervals.  It is hoped that KP.3 boosters will be available in September. 

Vaccine development and more importantly administration has been neglected as health departments and the public have the perception that COVID is a disease of past.

The nasal vaccine developed at Washington University, St. Louis, MO. and now manufactured and administered in India with success, should become available in the U.S. This will provide protection through mucosal immunity that is not derived from an injectable vaccine that stimulates circulating antibody.  It is also hoped that eventually pan-coronavirus vaccines will be developed that will provide more durable immunity against a wider range of variants.