SAN ANTONIO — According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 cases have soared in 36 states this summer. Texas is included in that number. 

What You Need To Know

  • With children returning to the classroom, the Metropolitan Health District is hosting pop-up vaccine clinics to get families ready

  • According to the most recent Texas Respiratory Virus Surveillance Report, there were 10,753 probable and confirmed COVID cases, up 50.3% from the previous week

  • Dr. Jason Bowling, University Health’s director of hospital epidemiology, says last year only 22% of adults and 14% of kids got COVID boosters. The newest, most updated COVID vaccine is expected to be ready late August or early September

“COVID is still here in our community,” said Dr. Anita Kurian, deputy director of San Antonio’s Metropolitan Health District.

Kurian’s primary focus is infectious diseases and vaccinations. 

“Vaccines have saved lives for more than 100 years,” said Kurian. “They are very effective against—protecting us children or adults—against vaccine-preventable diseases.”

Kurian says COVID has become a part of our lives over the last four years. 

“Just like any other respiratory illness, it tends to spike during winter months,” said Kurian. “And we also tend to see some summer spikes. This could be attributed because of human behavior. We tend to see more travel during summer months. We tend to see more family get-togethers.”

With children returning to the classroom, the Metropolitan Health District is hosting pop-up vaccine clinics to get families ready.

“There are some required vaccines based on what grade your child is going into, so make sure you come to a pop-up, come to the clinic,” Kurian said.

According to the most recent Texas Respiratory Virus Surveillance Report, there were 10,753 probable and confirmed COVID cases, up 50.3% from the previous week.

“These new variants are called FLiRT variants, and that relates to two different mutations in these strains,” said Dr. Jason Bowling, University Health’s director of hospital epidemiology. “And again, these are the two mutations that are making it so contagious and infectious right now that are allowing these new strains to get around our immune response from prior infections or prior vaccinations.” 

Bowing says last year only 22% of adults and 14% of kids got COVID boosters. The newest, most updated COVID vaccine is expected to be ready late August or early September.

“These new variants are more transmissible, but fortunately, we aren’t seeing more severe disease,” said Dr. Bowling. “We’re really not seeing new symptoms either. People are continuing to have the classic symptoms that we now associate with COVID. Sore throat, nasal congestion, cough, fatigue, headache and loss of smell and taste, people still get that now.”