In the latest COVID-19 Vaccine Partner Newsletter, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) responded to the question of the week: What do we know about BA.2, the latest COVID-19 variant?
DOH explained that the omicron BA.1 and BA.2 variants emerged around the same time. The United States saw omicron BA.1 cases surge in early 2022 and are now seeing a rise in cases of the BA.2 variant. According to the World Health Organization, the BA.2 variant spreads 30 percent more easily than the BA.1 variant. Considering the highly contagious nature of BA.2 and the significant surge in omicron BA.2 cases in Africa and Europe, many are nervous a similar surge in cases will occur in the U.S. The DOH newsletter cited data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that highlights the shift in current U.S. COVID-19 cases from omicron BA.1 to BA.2. Though the BA.1 variant was responsible for 99 percent of US COVID-19 infections in January 2022, CDC data shows the BA.2 variant accounts for 54.9 percent of U.S. COVID-19 infections as of March 26, 2022.
The DOH newsletter acknowledged that the BA.2 variant may only extend the case surge of the omicron BA.1 variant without initiating a new surge. However, as many return to pre-pandemic lifestyles amid lifted COVID-19 restrictions, a new surge of the omicron BA.2 variant remains a significant concern.
The newsletter underscored the fact that the COVID-19 vaccine remains the most effective protection against COVID-19 infection and severe illness. DOH urges individuals to get vaccinated if eligible and obtain a booster shot if you have already been vaccinated.
For more information about the current status of omicron BA.2 variant cases in the U.S., visit the CDC Variant Proportions page.