'This (BA.2.12.1) is now the most transmissible subvariant we have of all,' said Dr. Monica Gandhi of UCSF. 'It now looks like it's 30% more transmissible than BA.2 alone.'
SAN FRANCISCO -- The highly contagious omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 accounts for roughly 37% of new COVID cases nationwide.
"This is now the most transmissible subvariant we have of all," said Dr. Monica Gandhi, MD, MPH, UCSF Infectious Disease expert and added,"it now looks like it's 30% more transmissible than BA.2 alone." Dr. Gandhi says that even if you are vaccinated, double boosted and doing everything right this subvariant can still infect you.
"You got a vaccine that looks like the old strain of the virus and there are 32 mutations across the spike protein that omicron has. So, the antibodies which is this defense up here don't work as well, but your deep defense down in the lungs and your ability to still protect yourself from severe disease the vaccine still works," said Dr. Gandhi.