In response to rising COVID-19, RSV, and flu infection rates, local hospitals have recently brought back masking requirements. Dana Farber began requiring full masking by patients and providers on December 18. Since January 2, MassGeneral Brigham, which includes Newton-Wellesley Hospital, has been requiring providers to be masked when providing care but not in common areas. Their patients are encouraged but not required to wear masks unless they have a fever or other flu-like symptoms, have a known COVID-19 infection and are in their isolation period, or have a known exposure to COVID-19 within the last ten days.
In the absence of widespread testing and reporting, measurement of COVID-19 in MWRA wastewater is considered the best method for assessing COVID-19 levels. The moving averages of measurements have now reached levels that were exceeded only during the Omicron variant wave of January 2022, although the most recent data may point to the beginning of a reversal in the trend.
The dominant variant of COVID-19 currently surging in the U.S. is believed to be JN1. Research shows that the latest vaccine booster against the XBB.1.5 variant stimulates antibodies that also react with JN1.
Dr. Xiaoyan Qin, owner of Union Pharmacy, says, “So far, we have vaccinated about 4,200 people with the COVID-19 booster in our Newton Centre location and approximately 2,100 in the Newtonville location.” Qin said most were Newton residents, but people do come in from adjacent towns for the convenience of walk-in vaccinations.
When asked about the effectiveness of the vaccines, Qin noted that she has not seen subsequent prescriptions coming in for Paxlovid for those vaccinated, suggesting the vaccine may be working fairly well. Qin indicated that while vaccination rates have slowed, the store still sees 15-20 people each day for shots. Walk-in vaccinations for COVID, flu, and RSV are available at the Newton Centre and Newtonville locations, 10 AM-6 PM Monday-Friday, and 10 AM-4 PM Saturdays.
Ed. Note: The author is employed in the pharmaceutical industry.