The Ministry of Health has reported a significant surge in COVID-19 cases in Mexico, with over 400 new cases recorded in the past week. This figure marks a notable increase from the previous trend of approximately 200 weekly infections. Testing is also at an all-time low, so many cases are not being documented.
The rise in cases coincides with an increase in the COVID-19 positivity rate. The latest data indicates a 28 percent chance of testing positive for the virus in week 27 of this year, compared to a 15 percent positivity rate during the same week last year.
Positivity Rates Reach Seasonal High
The current positivity rate is the highest recorded this year, surpassing the 21 percent positivity rate observed during the early weeks of the respiratory disease season. This uptick in cases and positivity rates highlights the ongoing challenges in managing the virus, despite widespread vaccination efforts.
Earlier this year, COVID-19 vaccines became available in shopping malls and pharmacies, making it easier for people to get vaccinated. This expanded access to vaccines aims to mitigate the severity of symptoms and reduce the likelihood of complications.
Vaccination Recommendations
Dr. Alejandro Macías, a leading expert on viral diseases, emphasized the importance of continued vigilance against COVID-19. He noted that while COVID-19 no longer represents an emergency health crisis, it remains a persistent threat that should be managed similarly to influenza.
Dr. Macías recommended booster shots for specific high-risk groups to prevent severe infections:
- Individuals over 50 years old
- Overweight individuals
- People with chronic diseases
- Pregnant women
- Healthcare personnel
“Ideally, the entire population should be vaccinated, but if we are going to adapt vaccination for economic reasons, we will prioritize these risk groups as we do with the influenza vaccine,” Dr. Macías explained in a recent video on his YouTube channel.
He also suggested that COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations might be administered together by the end of the year, coinciding with the start of the winter respiratory disease season.
Advances in Vaccination
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now recommends monovalent vaccines, which are effective against both the original strain of COVID-19 and the Omicron variants known to date. The ongoing development of vaccines is crucial due to the “genetic distance” between the initial variants and the new strains.
Pharmaceutical companies are currently working on the fourth generation of COVID-19 vaccines, underscoring the importance of booster shots. The dominant strain in circulation is now KP.2, necessitating updated vaccines to combat it effectively.
