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As new variants of COVID-19 emerge, the virus becomes more contagious and now the omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 accounts for about 37% of the new COVID cases nationwide.
Dr. Monica Gandhi, UCSF Infectious Disease expert, says that even though you are vaccinated, double boosted and are being cautious the new subvariant can still infect you because it is now the "most transmissible subvariant we have of all."
"You got a vaccine that looks like the old strain of the virus and there are 32 mutations across the spike protein that omicron has. So, the antibodies which is this defense up here (nasal cavities) don't work well, but your deep defense down in the lungs and your ability to still protect yourself from severe disease the vaccine still works," said Dr. Gandhi.
So overall, the vaccine will protect you from experiencing severe symptoms from COVID but people end up catching the virus due to the new strains which are more contagious. Dr. Gandhi also says that there could be a nasal COVID-19 vaccine in the future that could prevent further infections. Go to ABC 7 for more.