Understand the BA.5 hospitalization rate and mortality rate in one article! Intensivist: The protective effect of adding 3 doses of vaccine after infection reaches 90%
The command center recently pointed out that the Omicron subspecies BA.5 virus will bring the next wave of epidemic peaks in Taiwan. Currently, the two major regions of Beibei, Taozhumiao and Yihuadong are already showing a rising trend. What are BA.5’s hospitalization rates, mortality rates, and the vaccine’s protective power against it? Dr. Huang Xuan, an expert in critical care medicine, said in a social post that although BA.5 spreads quickly, a certain degree of protection can still be achieved if three doses of the vaccine are administered.
BA.5 hospitalization rate “broke through 1.2 times”! Can Omicron diagnosis reduce the risk of infection?
Dr. Huang Xuan cited a study on the hospitalization rate of BA.5 in Denmark and explained: compared with BA.2, the spread of the BA.5 virus led to an increase of 16%-124% in the hospitalization rate of patients, and the severity of the disease was also higher than that of BA.2, but less severe. Delta virus is milder. A Portuguese study published in “medrxiv” claimed that the hospitalization rate of BA.5 virus infection is almost the same as that of other Omicron viruses, but when BA.5 invades the community, all-cause mortality tends to increase.
As for the “re-infection protection” gained after being infected with the epidemic, what is its effect on BA.5? Dr. Huang Xuan explained that comparing the BA.1 and BA.2 subspecies, the protective power against the latter after infection with the former is about 96.3%, and the former also has certain protection against BA.5. However, if you were previously infected with the Delta or Alpha variant, the protection against BA.5 was only 46.9% and 65.4%, respectively. Compared with other Omicron subspecies, the reinfection rate is higher.
In addition, Japan’s analysis of more than 8 million confirmed cases pointed out that people who have been infected with omicron BA.1 and BA.2 so far have a preventive effect of BA.4/BA.5 of 76.1%; having said that, those who have been infected People with BA.1 or BA.2 still have a certain chance of being infected with BA.5 again.
3 doses of vaccine plus infection protection reaches 90%! Intensivist reveals “critical timing” for BA.5 spread
Dr. Huang Xuan believes that BA.5 has begun to invade various parts of the world, and opening borders to countries has become a global trend. Therefore, a large increase in the number of infected people in various places will become an inevitable phenomenon. Taiwanese people can avoid the expansion of the chain of transmission by washing hands frequently, maintaining social distance and wearing masks; and those who plan to study, travel or work abroad in the future should pay attention to the following “two major things”:
Complete 3 doses of vaccine. Dr. Huang Xuan emphasized that taking 3 doses of the vaccine has higher protection against BA.5 than not taking the vaccine or only taking 2 doses of the vaccine. The study also found that the efficacy of the vaccine against BA.5 after three doses was no worse than that against BA.2. A Danish study also found that those who had been infected with Omicron virus and later received three additional doses of the vaccine had a protective effect against BA.5 of 93.6%.
Be ready for quick screening at any time. According to Japanese research, the incubation period of the BA.5 virus currently invading Japan is 2.4 days, which is shorter than the 2.9 days of BA.1 and 3.7 days of Delta. Therefore, when traveling or working, you should keep the rapid test screen with you. If you have symptoms and feel uncomfortable, you can collect samples on the spot to clarify whether it is a precursor to diagnosis.
Finally, Dr. Huang Xuan said that when you go out and find that more and more people are not observing social safety distance in public places such as stations, restaurants, entertainment areas or tourist attractions, this means that this may be an opportunity for the BA.5 virus to spread. For gatherings of unspecified people, it is necessary to wear masks, disinfect with alcohol, and implement personal epidemic prevention work. This can not only prevent BA.5 from invading the body, but also prevent the continued expansion of community transmission chains.
Source:
“What should I bring with me when I go out to work/travel?” - Dr. Huang Xuan
“BA.5 virus community infection increases, hospitalization rate will also increase” - Dr. Huang Xuan
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