CDC updates guidelines on coronavirus variants

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) --- There is new guidance when it comes to COVID-19 variants.

The CDC says it plans to adapt COVID-19 vaccines, tests, and therapeutics Tuesday, Feb. 23.

"We ourselves in this country are already facing the variants that are having impact such as the UK variant," Dr. Anthony Fauci said. "We have the South African variant in our nation. We're even having the evolution of variants within our own country."

Experts say some vaccines have shown to be effective against these variants, including Pfizer's.

They found one dose of the vaccine reduced the risk by contracting the virus by 72%.

Two doses lessened the risk even more by 85%.

In addition, doctors now say a third of people had lingering symptoms almost nine months after infecting COVID-19.

The most common symptoms of long COVID-19 are fatigue, loss of taste and smell, and brain fog.

So far more than 28 million cases of coronavirus have been reported in the nation, but doctors say even if only a small percentage of people have long-term COVID-19, it is still a massive number that could produce hefty consequences. 

"The healthcare impacts are significant, just the cost of evaluations and management, but the economic implications of people missing work I think (is) astounding," Ascension Oak Creek Family Medicine Physician Dr. Erin O'Too said. 

While there is no specific protocol to treat long-term COVID-19 yet, doctors say it is important to get medical help, because there are treatments available to remedy various symptoms people may have.