Vaccine advice as COVID cases rise

Rochester, New York – Dr. Angela Branche and the members of the Translational Immunology and Infectious Diseases Institute team at URMC noted an increase in COVID-19 patients in Monroe County at the beginning of July.

That increase was indicative of a global and national trend.

Since then, Blanche stated on Friday, the number has only increased.

She points the finger at a fresh batch of variations that are more contagious but thankfully not more deadly than more recent iterations.

“The majority of people are sick with mild colds or mild flu-like illnesses, but we are seeing patients who are increasingly being hospitalized with COVID-19, especially older adults and adults with underlying medical conditions,” Branche stated.

Branche notes that although a revised vaccine that addresses the new variations is anticipated to be released this fall, individuals should still think about getting vaccinated right away.

“You have to weigh the risks and benefits of waiting another two to three months versus knowing that transmission in our community is pretty high and now is the time you need to be protected,” Branche said. “It might be October or even November before you have access to that vaccine.”

In any case, she advises wearing a mask when inside with a group of people if you belong to the high-risk category.