Covid: what is important to know for this autumn

Highlights: Covid-19 infections are increasing sharply in countries in the northern hemisphere. Fortunately, the world's population is better prepared. The main treatment is Paxlovid, from Pfizer. Covid remains "clearly more serious than a traditional cold", says infectious disease specialist Amesh Adalja. The prevalence is between 4 and 65 million people worldwide, according to the U.S. government. The United States recommends a recall for the entire population this fall. But the advisability of re-vaccinating young, healthy people is debated.

Covid-19 infections are increasing sharply in countries in the northern hemisphere and new variants have emerged. Fortunately, the world's population is better prepared. An update on what you need to know in the coming months.

Europe 1 with AFP // Photo credits: Valerie Dubois / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP 12:25 p.m., September 13, 2023

With the arrival of autumn, Covid-19 infections are again on the rise in the northern hemisphere, and new variants have emerged. An update on what you need to know for the coming months.

What comparison today with the flu?

The Covid-19 pandemic has had terrible consequences, with the deaths of nearly 7 million people worldwide. But thanks to vaccines, immunity acquired after contamination, and better treatments, the virus is now much more under control. "If you ask me to choose between flu and Covid, I would choose Covid because each individual case of flu is riskier," Ashish Jha, a doctor and former White House adviser, told AFP. But if Covid is now more rarely fatal, "it also seems to have a higher rate of complications in the long term".

Covid-19 is also more contagious. Less seasonal than the flu, however, it peaked between December and January over the last three winters in the United States, slightly before the flu. Covid remains "clearly more serious than a traditional cold", also stressed infectious disease specialist Amesh Adalja.

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Are booster doses beneficial?

Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax have developed updated vaccines, new versions better suited to currently circulating variants. Getting vaccinated was essential at the height of the pandemic, and there is general agreement that booster doses are beneficial to the most vulnerable. But the advisability of re-vaccinating young, healthy people is debated.

Almost the entire population has already been infected in Western countries, studies have shown. And these infections, along with vaccines, trained the immune system to defend itself. According to medical professor Monica Gandhi, indiscriminate recommendations for everyone could undermine trust in the authorities. The messenger RNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna carry risks of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) especially in young men.

For example, the United Kingdom, France and Germany recommend an annual booster for at-risk groups only. Other experts believe that the risks involved are minimal. Even people with little risk of developing a severe case of the disease "benefit from the boosters" anti-Covid, says epidemiologist Ziyad Al-Aly. The United States recommends a recall for the entire population this fall.

Do I always have to wear masks?

The issue of masks has sometimes become very sensitive, especially in the United States. According to the analysis of a respected organization, Cochrane, the promotion of mask wearing has not had a visible effect in slowing the spread of the virus. But researchers know, thanks to laboratory tests, that a well-fitting and quality mask (N-95 in the United States, FFP2 in France...) protects. People can therefore choose to wear them indoors, although this is generally not necessary according to Monica Gandhi, given the protection provided by vaccines.

Do we still need to test ourselves?

People at risk, the elderly, or with pathologies such as cancer, obesity or diabetes, should continue to test themselves if they experience symptoms, experts agree. Because they could then benefit from antivirals, drugs that must be taken quickly at the beginning of the infection, so that it does not degenerate.

The main treatment is Paxlovid, from Pfizer. Some countries believe that testing only those at risk is sufficient, such as the United Kingdom. Free tests are still provided for them. But "most people no longer need to test themselves," write the British health authorities. "To avoid transmitting the infection, stay home if you feel unwell."

Vaccination would reduce the risk of developing a long Covid

Research on long-term Covid, symptoms that last for months, remains hampered by the lack of definition on which everyone agrees, according to Amesh Adalja. The prevalence is between 4 and 7 percent, or 65 million people worldwide, according to Ziyad Al-Aly. "Unfortunately, we haven't made progress in treating the long Covid," he says. "This should be a priority for agencies around the world."

It seems that being vaccinated reduces the risk of developing a long Covid, which is also often correlated with the severity of the infection. The U.S. government has funded several clinical trials to better understand this pathology. According to one of them, an antidiabetic reduced symptoms by 40%. More results are expected in the coming months.