I have been worrying about this for days but don't have the spoons to dig in:

BA.3.2 lost its ability to bind tightly to ACE-2 receptors on cells [1]

Remember that Long COVID rates were much higher during Delta? Remember that Delta was much more prone to syncytia (not needing ACE2 at all) in part because it had reduced ACE-2 affinity?

syncytia formation via the highly fusogenic Delta spike promotes cellular senescence and extracellular cytokine release [2]

and I know I read (skimmed) a paper suggesting that this method of direct contact cell-cell transmission was driving Long COVID - aha here:

We propose the hypothesis that SARS-CoV-2 transitions to persistent infection, facilitated by syncytia formation [3]

[1] https://archive.md/HWOHt#selection-3205.38-3205.105
[2] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10785701/
[3] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40535019/

#COVID #COVID19 #SARSCoV2 #CovidIsNotOver #BA32 #syncytia #syncytial

New this year are the first shots to protect older adults from #respiratory #syncytial #virus, a lesser-known threat whose toll in hospitalizations and deaths may rival that of flu.

Federal health officials are hoping that widespread use of these three vaccines will head off another “#tripledemic” of respiratory illnesses, like the one seen last winter.

For people with insurance, all of the vaccines should be available for free.

#flu #covid #rsv
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/05/health/flu-covid-rsv-vaccines.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

World’s 1st #RSV #vaccine available for older Americans this fall

Americans 60 and older will be able to get a new RSV vaccine for #respiratory #syncytial #virus disease.

The newly approved vaccines are expected to be ready in the fall, a time when flu shots and updated COVID-19 shots also will be available.

Those eligible for the RSV vaccine should talk with their doctor to see if it is right for them, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement.

The CDC said adults with chronic heart or lung disease, weakened immune systems and those living in long-term care facilities are at higher risk for the respiratory infection.

RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a common cause of cold-like symptoms but it can be dangerous for infants and the elderly. A surge last year filled hospitals with wheezing children. There’s no vaccine yet for kids, but one for pregnant women to prevent illness in infants may be coming too, pending approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

https://globalnews.ca/news/9801195/rsv-vaccine-older-americans-fall/

#CDC panel recommends #RSV #vaccines for adults ages 65 and up

#Respiratory #syncytial #virus causes a lower respiratory illness that is generally mild for most healthy adults. But in serious cases, RSV can lead to pneumonia or bronchiolitis, which inflames airways and clogs them with mucus.

Older people are particularly vulnerable to severe outcomes: RSV kills up to 10,000 people ages 65 or older every year in the U.S.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/cdc-panel-recommends-rsv-vaccines-rcna90250