What is the current COVID-19 status for myeloma patients? (https://www.myeloma.org/videos/current-covid-19-status-myeloma-patients)
Despite a Noticeable Decrease in COVID-19 Cases, Recent Weeks Have Witnessed a Slight Rise in Infections
The emergence of a new COVID-19 variant known as “Eris” has caught attention. Alongside Eris, there are three other variants circulating, contributing to the need for continued vigilance.
The BOTTOM LINE: A new targeted COVID-19 vaccine is anticipated to become available in the coming months. This development could potentially lead to a shift toward annual COVID-19 vaccinations.
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This patient for this week's Ask Dr. Durie wants to know what is the current status of COVID? Very, very important question. We spent two-to- three years very, very much focused on the COVID infection and how it was really impacting myeloma patients. We've been fortunate that the level of COVID has dropped to a very low level, and people have now been feeling rather safe. Appropriately so.
However, in recent weeks, there has been a slight uptick, a slight increase in the number of COVID infections being detected, and there is a slight concern about the possibility of a larger surge occurring as we head into the fall. A new COVID variant, a variant of Omicron, has been detected. This is called Eris, ERIS, and this is one of several variants that are in circulation at this time.
There are three other variants also fluctuating a little bit at levels as they are measured in the wastewater testing sites across the country. And so, the first part of the answer to this question is that there is a little bit of concern about increased levels of COVID, although there have been no increases in levels of hospitalization or deaths at this point.
So, some people have been getting infected and having some periods of illness, maybe a few days, maybe out to two or three weeks, but nothing too serious, it would seem. Looking towards the fall, it seems that we should be in pretty good shape. There is a plan to introduce the new targeted vaccines. Pfizer has one in development right now, and this should be available in the next month or two.
And so, the new Eris variant would be susceptible to this new planned Pfizer vaccine.
And so, there are two bottom lines to this particular question. Number one, just be a little bit more alert, right now. There is a little bit of more COVID infection in the community. So be cautious if you're in large groups. Number two, be aware that the new Pfizer vaccine is going to become available, and it's anticipated that perhaps around the time that you would normally be getting a flu vaccine.
There would be a move towards setting up what might become an annual COVID vaccination. And so, this is something to be alert for as we move towards the fall.
Dr. Brian G.M. Durie (1942-2025) was the co-founder of the IMF. He was a Professor of Medicine, Hematologist/Oncologist, and Honoree MD at the University of Brussels.