Top 5 Infectious Disease Stories of the Week-March 25, 2022

Contagion compiles 5 highlights of our coverage in infectious disease including video interviews, podcasts, and significant stories from the week ending March 25, 2022.

Here are Contagion’s highlights from the week:

1. Booster Doses of mRNA Vaccines Protected Against Severe COVID-19 from Omicron
Recent booster shots of mRNA vaccines prevented severe infection, hospitalization and death during the Omicron wave of the pandemic, despite a higher rate of breakthrough infections than was seen during the Delta wave, a new study found.

2. Children’s Duration of COVID-19 Immunity from Natural Infection
A Texas study found children and adolescents who previously contracted COVID-19 retained protective antibodies
for 6 or more months after infection. However, natural infection plus vaccination remains the best defense
against COVID-19.

3. Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis More Likely After COVID-19 Infection
A matched cohort study found COVID-19 infection increased the risk of new type 2 diabetes diagnosis. Compared to patients with acute upper respiratory tract infections, COVID-19 patients were 28% more likely to develop diabetes.

4. COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness Wanes Rapidly Against Omicron Variant
COVID-19 vaccines were less protective against symptomatic infection from the Omicron COVID-19 variant than the Delta variant.

5. Moderna Announces New Vaccination Programs During its Vaccines Day
The company is developing a single combination vaccine to cover SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as well as another candidate for endemic human coronaviruses.