From @latimes based on interview with Karen Gallardo a respiratory therapist at a hospital in Ventura County, CA #GetVaccinated#WearAMask or what to expect if you have severe COVID-19
“If we manage it the way that we manage it now, then most people will get infected with it at least a couple of times a year,” - @K_G_Andersen nytimes.com/2022/05/16/hea…
The new variants have not altered the fundamental usefulness of the Covid vaccines. Most people who have received 3 or even 2 doses will not become sick enough to need medical care if they test positive. Booster seems to decrease chance of reinfection — but not by much
Omicron seems to be evolving new forms that penetrate immune defenses with relatively few changes to its genetic code.
“This is actually for me a bit of a surprise,” -@sigallab
Infection with Omicron produces a weaker immune response, which seems to wane quickly,
China’s Zero COVID Strategy Braces for Omicron
“You have to give China a lot of credit for keeping COVID so low for 2 years, but now...we have passed the point where we can expect to prevent cases because it’s simply so transmissible...” @LawrenceGostin voanews.com/a/china-s-zero…
“In fact, the omicron variant might be one of the most infectious pathogens on the planet. So, I don't think it's sustainable for China to expect to have zero tolerance for cases because it's only a matter of time before China is overwhelmed with cases."
Chen Xi of Yale School of Public Health, pointed out that China has shifted from a zero-tolerance policy to a “dynamic” zero tolerance policy, meaning that the country acknowledges it is impossible to keep the case number to zero.
"The exposure-to-symptom gap, called the incubation period, is estimated to be about 5-6 days for the original strain, 5 days for the alpha variant and 4 days for delta."
For #omicron? May be a 3-day incubation period, shortest of any variant. 1/4 beckershospitalreview.com/public-health/…
#Omicron might be the second most contagious disease on the planet, behind only measles according to a @ClevelandClinic infectious disease doctor.
Both @ScottGottliebMD and @JReinerMD have said it spreads like measles. Will "zero-covid" be possible vs omicron? 2/4
Studies show #Omicron may be milder illness. Double vaccination with mRNA and boost (or double vax and previous infection w/ Covid-19) seems to be protective, if not against symptomatic illness & transmission, at least against severe illness/hospitalization/death. 3/4
Much unknown about Omicron but ...it's spreading fast. In S. Africa, UK & Denmark-countries w/best variant surveillance & high immunity vs.COVID-Omicron cases growing exponentially. Omicron outcompeted Delta in S. Africa & may soon do so elsewhere. theatlantic.com/health/archive…
Omicron spreading in highly immune populations as quickly as original virus did in populations w/no immunity at all. If this holds & is left uncontrolled, big Omicron wave lies ahead-bigger than Delta. US has a low vax rate. Omicron may eat away at the immunity we thought we had
..if cases balloon dramatically, even a tiny percentage of patients becoming seriously ill can turn into too many hospitalizations all at once. Therein lies danger possible with Omicron. “...small proportion of severe disease, if it’s multiplied by millions of cases, will be bad”
"...employers in the difficult & legally precarious position of determining whether the requests are valid. Some states have tried to do away with non-medical exemptions overall for their employees." abcnews.go.com/Health/covid-1…
44 states & DC currently offer religious exemptions to vaccines, of which 15 offer broader personal belief exemptions for personal, moral or spiritual ideologies. 6 states -- California, Connecticut, Maine, Mississippi, New York & West Virginia -- only offer medical exemptions.
No major religion has come out in opposition to the COVID-19 vaccines. Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Scientists, & Catholic Church have all issued statements saying that their religion does not prohibit members from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. npr.org/2021/10/04/104…