r/LosAngeles • u/Bobba-Luna • May 27 '25
Public Health Stanford scientists detect new COVID variant in California as U.S. moves to tighten vaccine access
https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/covid-variant-nb181-california-20346597.php?utm_source=marketing&utm_medium=copy-url-link&utm_campaign=article-share&hash=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2ZjaHJvbmljbGUuY29tL2hlYWx0aC9hcnRpY2xlL2NvdmlkLXZhcmlhbnQtbmIxODEtY2FsaWZvcm5pYS0yMDM0NjU5Ny5waHA%3D&time=MTc0ODM2MTAxNjU2Mw%3D%3D&rid=ODRjYjdlN2ItOGM5OC00YjFmLWExNjQtZDQzZDczMWEzZDE1&sharecount=Mw%3D%3DA new, highly transmissible variant of the coronavirus, known as NB.1.8.1, was detected in California and several other U.S. states, prompting concern among public health experts as the federal government moves to restrict access to updated COVID-19 vaccines.
First identified as a driving force behind a major surge in cases across China last month, the NB.1.8.1 variant has been reported in international travelers screened at airports in Washington, Virginia, New York and California. In California, scientists at the Stanford Clinical Virology Laboratory confirmed the state’s first known infection on April 17, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Experts said they were closely monitoring the variant, which is spreading rapidly across parts of Asia and Euorpe. In Hong Kong, health officials recently reported the highest levels of COVID-19 activity in at least a year, citing a “significant increase” in emergency room visits and hospitalizations.
“CDC is aware of reported cases of COVID-19 NB.1.8.1 in China and is in regular contact with international partners,” the agency said in a statement last week to CBS News, which first reported the variant’s detection in the U.S.
In addition to airport screenings, local health departments have confirmed NB.1.8.1 cases in Ohio, Rhode Island, Hawaii, Washington and California.
Experts say the variant appears to be more contagious than previous strains, though not more severe. Symptoms are similar to earlier strains, including cough, sore throat, fever and fatigue.
The emergence of NB.1.8.1 coincides with a controversial shift in vaccine policy under the Trump administration.
The Food and Drug Administration, now under leadership appointed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., announced last week that updated COVID-19 vaccines this fall will be limited to seniors and people with certain medical conditions.
“The FDA will approve vaccines for high-risk persons and, at the same time, demand robust, gold-standard data on persons at low risk,” said Dr. Vinay Prasad, the agency’s vaccine division chief and a professor of epidemiology at UCSF.
While officials say up to 200 million Americans will still qualify, many health experts warn the policy could leave large portions of the population unprotected.
During an FDA advisory panel meeting last week, outside vaccine experts discussed the implications of NB.1.8.1 and strategies for the upcoming vaccine rollout.
Last season’s shots targeted the KP.2 variant, a descendant of JN.1. Early data from Pfizer and Moderna suggest that a shift to another JN.1 offshoot — LP.8.1, currently dominant in the U.S. — may offer broader protection, including against NB.1.8.1.
A final decision on which strain to target in this fall’s vaccine is expected in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, public health officials continue to recommend basic preventative measures, including masking in crowded spaces and staying home when sick, as the country heads into its typical summer COVID-19 surge window.
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u/itzjuztm3 May 27 '25
I had COVID last week. First time for me. No idea if it was this variant though.
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u/subredditcat May 27 '25
How was it for you?
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u/M0M0_DA_GANGSTA May 27 '25
"tighten vaccine access"
We cooked if that's how they're phrasing it 👀
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u/arianrhodd Kindness is king, and love leads the way May 28 '25
They've also taken pregnant women off the list. Pregnant women suffered some of the most severe complications from COVID.
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u/pb_barney79 May 27 '25
With Federal agencies like the CDC and Dept of Health being reduced, where can one get accurate information about outbreaks, etc.?
I see more people masking up but don't know if it's because of COVID or something else.
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u/paintedfaceless May 27 '25
Local unis and public health authorities. Dunno if that’s being aggregated elsewhere.
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u/deadprezrepresentme Highland Park May 28 '25
This lone fella has been the greatest resource I've been able to find since the start of the pandemic. He offers nothing but data and projection and attacks everything completely objective and without an agenda.
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u/BagOdonutz May 28 '25
JWeiland is great, just also want to add Michael Hoerger, another population scientist who makes great resources: link I miss biobot’s public wastewater reports, but you can still get wastewater data from the CDC (for now).
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u/luv2ctheworld May 27 '25
The party of small government, religious freedom, and personal choice.
None of which they actually support.
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u/Celesteven May 28 '25
People in my household who dodged COVID for 5 years just came down with this.
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u/Hatrct May 28 '25 edited May 28 '25
The last variant that caused a non-endemic wave (outside of flu season) was JN1 in summer 2024... if there was no new non-endemic variant/wave by fall/winter 2025/2026, one would have hoped that this virus finally turned endemic. But now this new variant threatens that. But let's wait and see: places like China opened up late during the pandemic so there may be some differences in immunity, we have to wait and see if this variant causes a wave in places like the US.
Also, since less than 0.000000000001% of people know about this: there is already a safe and effective vaccine that may be able to prevent infection. It is the codagenix vaccine. It is a live-attenuated virus vaccine that is administered through the nose, which means that it is a highly weakened version of the whole virus, and it has technology that prevents the spike protein from replicating in your body after you are exposed to the already extremely tiny viral load after this vaccine. The reason it is expected to protect against infection is because A) it is administered intranasally, which is where the virus enters B) it is the entire virus, not just the spike protein: each variant has its mutations mainly on the spike protein, that is why new variants continue to cause waves of infection despite vaccination, because the mRNA vaccines are solely based on the old spike protein of old variants so the new variants can evade this due to new mutations on their spike protein, and also because they are not intranasal. The first clinical trial for the live attentuated vaccine was done as early as 2021, which showed it was safe and effective in about 30 people. The phase 3/final clinical trial was done by the WHO and concluded in late 2024, but so far there is 0 word on the internet about the results.
Also, the US, despite fast tracking the mRNA vaccines by big corporations moderna/pfizer including their boosters, not only is rejecting to accept the WHO's clinical trial on this vaccine, but is strangely requiring an additional phase "2b" domestic trial before even doing a domestic phase 3 trial. And of course, not only has the phase 2b trial not started yet (we are in 2025 people), but even FUNDING for phase 2b trial has not even been secured yet, even by the biden administration, let alone the Trump administration. This vaccine could very well be the solution and if offered annually can prevent infection and long covid for millions, but due to brilliant government minds, and the public, of which 0.0000000001% know or care about this, it is just sitting somewhere in a laboratory while people more and more people continue to get infected and get long covid unnecessarily. The brilliant government minds believe that unleashing such a vaccine would be dangerous, despite clinical trials showing it is safe and effective on many people already, and requires 1000 additional years of clinical trials, and according to their calculations, it is more beneficial to wait 1000 more years and give long covid to millions of more people instead. And 0.0000000001% of the public even know about this let alone are talking about it. This goes against common sense. This vaccine is basically the virus at a very low viral load + technology that prevents the problematic spike protein from replicating in your body. People are ALREADY getting infected with ACTUAL covid OVER and OVER again. RELEASE this vaccine already: it is BETTER than covid infection which is ALREADY happening. But the big brilliant government minds want to restrict your decision to do this and force covid on your instead for another 1000 years of clinical trials that they 12 years just to approve funding for each additional stage of the clinical trials, while people are getting covid in the meantime. 1+1=3 everyone repeat after me.
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u/Spirited-Humor-554 May 27 '25
There is always a new variance. Seems like there is a new one every 6 months or so.
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u/Chalupaca_Bruh May 27 '25
Would be hilarious if the people looking to restrict vaccine access got Herman Cain’d.
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u/lmgforwork May 29 '25
It’s frustrating to hear that Stanford scientists have already found the NB.1.8.1 variant circulating in California just as federal policy moves toward limiting who can get updated vaccines.San Francisco Chronicle Pulling back access when a more contagious strain is gaining ground feels like taking away umbrellas right before a storm.
A few steps can soften the blow while officials sort out the next vaccine plan:
- Layer protection now. High-filtration masks in crowded indoor spaces and good ventilation at home still cut down exposure risk.
- Stay alert by testing quickly. Keeping a couple of reliable antigen kits on hand lets anyone check new symptoms within minutes and decide sooner about isolating or calling a doctor.
- Document symptoms and results. A simple log of test dates, any fevers, and how long symptoms last helps a clinician see patterns if care is needed later.
- Watch local wastewater or hospital dashboards. Regional data often spikes before headline numbers do, giving an early signal to tighten precautions.
None of this replaces broad vaccine access, but it buys time and peace of mind until clearer guidance— and hopefully wider eligibility— arrives.
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u/Similar-Low-3114 May 27 '25
I can’t wait for trump to really mess this next one up
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u/chil943 May 27 '25
He already is messing it up "The FDA will approve vaccines for high-risk persons and, at the same time, demand robust, gold-standard data on persons at low risk,” means you can't get vaxxed even if you want to unless you are elderly or "high risk"
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u/Automatic-Unit-8307 May 27 '25
So for COVID vaccines, senior is 65, but for other vaccines, mostly start at age 50 and senior discount for Dennys grand slam breakfast starts before 65
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u/AbsolutesDealer May 27 '25
“Experts say the variant appears to be more contagious than previous strains, though not more severe. Symptoms are similar to earlier strains, including cough, sore throat, fever and fatigue.”
Ohhhh nooooooooo!
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May 27 '25
Barbara Ferrer about to invoke a mask mandate tomorrow .
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u/Spirited-Humor-554 May 27 '25
Highly unlikely. Most of the public would ignore it and there is no way business would try to enforce it.
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u/coastally1337 May 27 '25
given how hard we're getting hammered by pollen this spring, i've been kn95'ing
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u/TeslasAndComicbooks The San Fernando Valley May 27 '25
Yeah I’ve been sneezing up a storm. Had like 7 in a row the other day.
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u/__-__-_-__ May 27 '25
I think that will be the death of the Democrats in 2026/2028.
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u/coastally1337 May 27 '25
it's either that or the death of more Americans once Trump's WH eliminates access to boosters for the general public--which then gets blamed on Democrats anyway
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u/__-__-_-__ May 27 '25
Look, I’ve gotten every booster available. I just don’t think people care as much as reddit thinks. People don’t want to be told what to do.
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u/ceviche-hot-pockets Pasadena May 27 '25
Are people still scared of Covid? Time to move on.
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u/soldforaspaceship The San Fernando Valley May 27 '25
I mean, that reads as really dismissive of those who lost loved ones to the virus.
Just a thought.
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u/ceviche-hot-pockets Pasadena May 27 '25
I mean I was plenty scared of it in 2020, 2021 and a bit in 2022. I got it in 2022 and it was nothing. At some point it’s just another virus which we should avoid but not fear.
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u/YetiBot May 27 '25
What about this article frightened you? You say it’s fine to try to avoid catching covid, which is exactly what we want to do by getting a vaccine or wearing a mask.
I don’t understand your leap from seeing basic logical preventative measures and calling them “scared”.
I’m extremely unlikely to die of Covid. Still sounds unpleasant and I’d rather avoid it. I wear a seatbelt in the car and lock my door at night too. Am I a pathetic fearful sheep?
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u/ZeeBalls May 27 '25
Oh thank god! You got it and you’re ok, right? The rest of the planet and the families of the 7 million people that it killed, that was their #1 concern. Long as ceviche-hot-pockets says we should just not fear it, we good!
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u/ceviche-hot-pockets Pasadena May 27 '25
Notice how nobody outside Reddid cares about Covid anymore? It ain’t just me, pal.
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u/ZeeBalls May 27 '25
The cult of maga is giddy with a fat rapist that’s telling them climate change is a hoax. Science, statistics and facts don’t really give a flying fuck what the dumbest half of America thinks about it.
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u/garifunu May 27 '25
I noticed how you didn’t acknowledge all the people who died
Congratulations on being young and healthy, two very simple things you will take for granted.
Now what about babies, grandparents, and the immunocompromised. Is it time for them to move on too and to stop being “scared” of it? I mean sure yeah once they get the vaccine :)
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May 27 '25
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u/soldforaspaceship The San Fernando Valley May 27 '25 edited May 27 '25
You certainly seem like the type to fear a little prick.
Edit: in case that's not clear. I despise liars. Especially those who invent deaths for online points.
There are roughly 30-40 deaths in the US that medical review believes could be directly caused by the vaccine. So for you to know 2 of them is statistically impossible.
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u/Earth_Inferno May 27 '25
And on top of that they themselves have "serious long term side effects from the vaccine" along with a bunch of people they know? If you're going to lie, at least make it something statistically possible.....
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u/soldforaspaceship The San Fernando Valley May 27 '25
Seriously. People like that caused covid deaths with their lies.
I will not give them a pass.
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u/Into-Imagination May 27 '25 edited May 27 '25
Are people still scared of Covid? Time to move on.
Me personally? Nah.
For my partner who has other health challenges, and an infection would cause risks/issues? Heck yeah.
All I want is the ability for my partner and me to get the damn vaccine, same as we could last year. I don’t give a crap what you do or do not vaccinate for, that’s between you and whatever medical advisor you use.
Yet people like you trotting out the “oh are you still afraid boo hoo” baloney is getting in the way of that: all of a sudden I’m no longer afforded the freedom to make that choice because of attitudes like yours.
So with the entire amount of respect due to you: may you step in puddles and have wet socks.
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u/-Livingonmyown- Valley Glen May 27 '25
Oh no, anyways.......
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u/Nikopoleous May 27 '25
Somehow I'm always surprised at how selfish people can be
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u/stonersteve1989 May 28 '25
How can you still be surprised? How many fucking selfish idiots voted for trump? This country is now visibly built on shit, run like shit, and is setting us up for a shit future. Basically the only thing that’s gonna save America is a pandemic bad enough it’ll kill off all the anti mask, anti science people
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u/Nikopoleous May 28 '25
Dude, chill.
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u/stonersteve1989 May 28 '25
No dude, be alarmed. The attempted fascist takeover of government is underway. If there ever was a time to be angry and upset it’s now.
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May 28 '25
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u/Nikopoleous May 28 '25
Ah, unverifiable claims. Always a joy.
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May 28 '25
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u/Nikopoleous May 28 '25
Let me guess, you're the reason we needed to in the first place
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May 28 '25
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u/Nikopoleous May 28 '25
let me guess you want lock downs again
I'm introverted, being at home away from sick people isn't exactly the punishment you think it is.
This has been lovely and all, but are you getting to your point sometime soon?
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May 28 '25
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u/Nikopoleous May 28 '25
Libertarians are so funny. Unlike being pregnant, spewing YOUR germs in a public space affects MY well-being.
My body has just as much of a right to exist as yours does. Unless you'd prefer it if I came over to where you lived and sneezed all over you whenever I got sick.
Tell me your address, sovereign citizen. I'll drop by the next time I have the flu.
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u/Lopsided-Berry7728 May 28 '25
lol. get your boosters and mask up now. your being told to be terrified, so act accordingly.
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u/sierrackh May 30 '25
Captain fucking gravel voice and the new “I woulda been an ENT but I woulda beat up the drill instructor” General are on it I am sure 🙄
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u/Automatic-Unit-8307 May 27 '25
How does vaccines work if only for seniors and people with health conditions? 200 millions people will qualify, so over 60 percent of USA population are seniors or in bad health enough to qualify for vaccines?