COVID Cases Rise in Asia as US Approves Novavax Booster

COVID-19 cases are once again rising in several countries around the world, particularly in Asian nations such as Hong Kong and Singapore. Over the past few weeks, not only has the number of infections increased significantly, but the number of hospital admissions has also risen, raising concerns. According to a report by Bloomberg, these cities are witnessing a surge in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.

Experts believe that the decline in immunity conferred by previous vaccines and the spread of new variants such as LP.8.1 and XFC are the primary reasons behind the resurgence. In light of this, they recommend that people proactively take a COVID-19 booster dose and consider COVID-19 vaccination similar to the seasonal flu shot. Against this backdrop, taking into account the growing threat, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval to a new vaccine developed by Novavax.

According to Dr. Mark U. Rup, an infectious disease expert based in the United States, the global surge in cases is currently being driven by the LP.8.1 variant. He stated that around 70% of the reported cases are attributed to this variant, while approximately 9% are caused by the XFC variant. He noted that subvariants of the original Omicron strain are now dominant.

Although these new variants are not considered highly lethal, experts point out that due to waning immunity, they are spreading more easily. Since April, the LP.8.1 variant has shown its impact in several countries, including the United Kingdom and Australia. The World Health Organization (WHO) had already classified LP.8.1 as a “variant under monitoring” as early as January. Experts urge the public to remain alert and adopt necessary precautions.