WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House said on Tuesday it will ensure that Americans continue to have easy access to vaccines, treatments and tests to contain the fast-spreading Omicron BA.5 subvariant that now accounts for the majority of cases in the United States. United States.
Outlining its strategy for managing BA.5 ahead of a briefing with top public health officials, the White House said there are indications that the subvariant may be better at evading immunity, including from past infections.
Authorities will prioritize booster shots, wide availability of home tests and high-quality masks, and support for immunocompromised people.
“These tools – even in the face of BA.5 – work to prevent serious illness, keep people out of the hospital and save lives – and we can prevent nearly all Covid-19 deaths with them,” the White House said in a statement.
The BA.5 and BA.4 subvariants now account for 80% of Covid-19 cases in the US, with BA.5 accounting for the majority of cases, the White House added.
The White House said the wide circulation of BA.5 means new cases are likely to increase in the coming weeks.
“This upside potential is greatest where fewer people are up to date with their vaccines,” he said.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended that Covid-19 vaccine manufacturers change the design of their booster doses to better combat subvariants BA.4 and BA.5.
(Reporting by Rami Ayyub)
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