UVM epidemiologist answers questions about recent COVID uptick, new vaccine
Vermont Public
COVID-19 cases nationwide are starting to tick up, and Vermont is seeing that trend, too. Dr. Tim Plante, a general internist, epidemiologist and assistant professor at the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, answered questions about this newest wave, and when you can plan to get your next booster.
What is causing the current rise in COVID-19 cases?
These new COVID-19 cases are starting to be comprised of a new variant, EG.5, which Plante said is on its way to being the dominant strain in the U.S. The variant is related to others in the omicron family.
"It's thought to evade antibodies from prior vaccines and prior infections," Plante said, which is leading to more cases after a quiet stretch. However, he also said it seems to not be more transmissible than previous variants, which is a good thing.