{"id":17255,"date":"2021-12-22T03:17:54","date_gmt":"2021-12-22T03:17:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/?p=17255"},"modified":"2024-02-01T22:30:37","modified_gmt":"2024-02-01T22:30:37","slug":"what-about-omicron","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/what-about-omicron\/","title":{"rendered":"What about omicron? Answers to your questions about this new variant","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

Two years into a pandemic that weighs heavily on the hearts, minds and health of our community, the arrival of the omicron variant \u2014 another mutated form of the virus that causes COVID-19<\/a> \u2014 is not the news anyone wants to hear, particularly amid long-awaited holiday celebrations. Yet while omicron is unwelcome, it is not unexpected.<\/p>\n

\u201cNew COVID-19 variants are inevitable,\u201d says Michael Myint, MD, an infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist with MultiCare. \u201cWith much of the world not being vaccinated yet, we anticipate that new variants will continue to evolve<\/a>. But the good news is that we have good global surveillance in place, so as they pop up, we can monitor and address them.\u201d<\/p>\n

What do we know about this new variant? How well do current vaccines and boosters protect against it? Below Dr. Myint and Mary Fairchok, MD, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at\u00a0Mary Bridge Children\u2019s<\/a>, answer these questions and more about omicron.<\/p>\n

Is omicron more contagious than delta?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Mounting evidence shows that omicron is more contagious than delta and other previous strains of the virus. \u201cOmicron spreads easily and it spreads fast. In the United Kingdom, cases are now doubling every two days which is astonishingly rapid,\u201d says Dr. Fairchok.<\/p>\n

Preliminary research out of Hong Kong indicates that one reason omicron may be more contagious are mutations that have sped up the rate at which the virus multiplies<\/a>. When viruses enter the human body, they start duplicating themselves so that those virus copies can then go on to infect other people. The Hong Kong study found that omicron duplicates 70 times faster in a person\u2019s airway than delta.<\/p>\n

At least 12 omicron cases have been confirmed across Washington state as of Dec. 20, pointing to significant community spread.<\/a> Due to its high degree of infectiousness, omicron has now become the dominant variant in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Does omicron cause more severe illness?<\/h2>\n

While omicron is more contagious, it does not seem to be making people sicker than previous variants, although there is not enough data available yet to be sure.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are still learning about the severity of omicron, but preliminary information from South Africa<\/a> suggests that it may cause milder illness than earlier strains of the virus, with a smaller percentage of people requiring hospitalization,\u201d says Dr. Fairchok. \u201cHowever, so far it is unclear if this will be the same for other populations. Doctors in the UK, where omicron has been rapidly surging, have not yet been able to determine if the same holds true for their patients.\u201d<\/p>\n

If omicron seems to cause milder illness, then what\u2019s the concern?<\/h2>\n

We don\u2019t yet have enough information to know how severe omicron will be in the U.S. However, even if omicron does cause milder illness, hospitals can still become overwhelmed due to the highly contagious nature of this variant.<\/p>\n

For example, if only 100 people get infected with a virus and 5 percent of them have to go to the hospital, that\u2019s only five hospitalizations. If a more infectious virus results in 10,000 infections and only 1 percent have to go to the hospital, that\u2019s 100 hospitalizations \u2014 or 20 times as many.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important to recognize that even if a smaller percentage of people require hospital care, the total number of deaths or hospitalizations could be staggering because omicron is so highly infectious,\u201d says Dr. Fairchok. \u201cThis is why it\u2019s important for everyone who qualifies to get vaccinated and get their booster shot.\u201d<\/p>\n

How well to do vaccines and boosters work against omicron?<\/h2>\n

The COVID-19 vaccines appear to be somewhat effective against the new variant, although they are less effective against omicron than previous strains. A preliminary UK study found that two doses of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) are between 30 to 40 percent effective at preventing symptomatic infections. However, a booster shot increased that level of effectiveness to over 70 percent<\/a>. Studies are ongoing, but all three vaccines, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, seem to protect against severe disease, death and hospitalization.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo vaccine is 100 percent effective. There are going to be some breakthrough infections \u2014 when a person who has been vaccinated contracts COVID-19,\u201d says Dr. Myint. \u201cBut those breakthrough infections are less likely if you \u2018re vaccinated and you have received your booster. Being fully vaccinated also significantly lowers the chances you will require hospital care.\u201d<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve already had COVID-19. Do I still need to get a vaccine or booster?<\/h2>\n

Yes, even if you\u2019ve had a COVID-19 infection before, it\u2019s still very important to get vaccinated and to get a booster shot. One South African study found that re-infection rates were three times higher with omicron than with delta.<\/a> Data from the UK also found that reinfection rates were 5.4 times more common with omicron than with past variants, which means that the protection conferred by a previous infection may be as low as 19 percent.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cImmunity \u2014 your level of protection \u2014 goes down over time, whether that immunity came from the primary series of a COVID-19 vaccine or a previous infection,\u201d says Dr. Myint. \u201cBooster shots can bring up that level of immunity so that you are better protected.\u201d<\/p>\n

Are vaccine manufacturers creating a booster shot specific to omicron \u2014 and should I wait to get it?<\/h2>\n

While variant-specific booster shots are in development, you should not wait \u2014 get your booster shot as soon as you are eligible.<\/p>\n

\u201cOmicron is spreading very quickly, and we do know that the current booster shots work against it, so I strongly recommend getting one as soon as it\u2019s time for you to do so,\u201d says Dr. Myint.<\/p>\n

Learn more about booster shots \u2014 when to get one, how to get one and whether to mix and match vaccine brands.<\/a><\/p>\n

How well do current COVID-19 treatments work against omicron?<\/h2>\n

Research is underway to determine how effective existing COVID-19 medications and treatments are in addressing the omicron variant. So far, those study results have been mixed.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome monoclonal antibody treatments<\/a> may not work as well against omicron while antivirals and anti-inflammatory medications are still likely to be effective,\u201d says Dr. Myint. \u201cMultiCare has a medical advisory group that routinely examines the literature about existing therapies and newly available drugs to ensure that we\u2019re offering the best treatments possible for COVID-19.\u201d<\/p>\n

How can I best protect myself and my loved ones?<\/h2>\n

While omicron may be a new COVID-19 variant, the tactics to prevent the spread of this virus remain the same:<\/p>\n