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New COVID strain arrives in WNY

Dr. Nancy Nielsen wearing a black blouse under her white UBMD lab coat.
Sandra Kicman
/
University at Buffalo
Dr. Nancy Nielsen

Western New York is used to dealing with the Delta and omicron variants of COVID-19. However, a new omicron subvariant has now arrived. WBFO's Jay Moran checked in with University at Buffalo Senior Associate Dean for Health Policy Dr. Nancy Nielsen for the latest.

WBFO's Jay Moran talks with UB's Dr. Nancy Nielsen

MORAN: Have we seen it here locally?

NIELSEN: Well, yes, we have seen it. It is a variant of omicron. Some people think it's different enough it should be called another variant. But right now, it's called BA.2, with the original omicron BA.1. We have found it here in Western New York and in Ontario and actually in 48 of the 50 states. It's supposed to be somewhat more transmissible, but it doesn't seem to be overtaking the population the way omicron did.

It started out in Europe quickly became the most frequent variant in Denmark and a few other countries. So it's very interesting. And there was a recent study that just was published online in Denmark that says a person could get COVID from BA.1 and again from BA.2, but it's rare. And most of those people who got infected twice were young and unvaccinated. So I think we should be be alert to what's happening with BA.2, but not overly concerned at this point.

MORAN: At the same time, though, this is following along something that you've been telling us throughout the last two years: there are more variants likely to come.

NIELSEN: There are and, as I've said before, we're really watching evolution in real time during this pandemic. So yes, it's certainly possible. And, obviously, what folks are most concerned about is, will a new variant escape vaccine protection? And, secondly, will the current test for COVID pick up a new variant? So far, we're okay on both of those fronts, but stay tuned.

MORAN: And when it comes to vaccines, about a year ago, we were talking about everybody getting it. Where are we now worldwide when it comes to vaccines?

NIELSEN: Well, you know, we have learned painfully a number of times, and most recently during the pandemic, that infectious diseases are a global problem. And in this situation, until everybody's vaccinated, none of us are truly safe. And in the beginning, if you remember, there was concern that the resource-poor nations didn't have enough vaccine. And so the resource-rich nations like the U.S. and Canada and the UK donated a lot of vaccine to them.

But interestingly, this past week, Africa's CDC has asked all the countries to pause the vaccine donations, because, frankly, getting vaccine isn't the issue right now. They're dealing — just like we are — with vaccine reluctance. So I think that is actually good news, in that there's vaccine everywhere. We still have lots of work to do to persuade those who, for whatever reason, are still reluctant to get vaccinated.

MORAN: Dr. Nancy Nielsen. As always, an enlightening conversation. Thanks very much for your time.

Monday - Friday, 6 a.m. - 10 a.m.

Jay joined Buffalo Toronto Public Media in 2008 and has been local host for NPR's "Morning Edition" ever since. In June, 2022, he was named one of the co-hosts of WBFO's "Buffalo, What's Next."

A graduate of St. Mary's of the Lake School, St. Francis High School and Buffalo State College, Jay has worked most of his professional career in Buffalo. Outside of public media, he continues in longstanding roles as the public address announcer for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League and as play-by-play voice of Canisius College basketball.