Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that the COVID-19 vaccine developed by the Maryland-based biotechnology company Novavax be used as another primary series option for adults.

Novavax can only be used for the primary series in unvaccinated individuals and cannot be used for booster or third doses for immunocompromised people. The vaccine will be available in Virginia the second week in August.

According to the Three Rivers Health District weekly COVID update, omicron BA.5 and BA.4 subvariants are still dominant across the U.S., now accounting for about 91 percent of new cases. BA.5 especially shows increased transmission, immunity evasion and enhanced ability to cause reinfection. Nasal stuffiness and sore throat have emerged as the predominant symptoms of BA.5 infection.

Rising numbers

Even with the continued underreporting of cases due to people testing at home and isolating if positive, COVID-19 case numbers are still rising nationally...