Look at this figure. There are 3 main reasons why it looks the way it does:
1) Vaccines work
2) Immunity from prior Covid
3) Less lung involvement with omicron
ourworldindata.org/covid-metrics-…
1) Vaccines work
2) Immunity from prior Covid
3) Less lung involvement with omicron
ourworldindata.org/covid-metrics-…
Of these 3 reasons, one is easily available and provides great protection: Vaccines
It has a big impact in reducing risk of severe disease during this omicron wave everywhere.
It has a big impact in reducing risk of severe disease during this omicron wave everywhere.
https://twitter.com/vincentrk/status/1478944588513611777
Prior Covid also offers protection. But vaccines augment that protection even more.
Omicron may have lesser propensity for lung involvement, but it's not zero. We see people getting seriously ill. We see deaths. It's luck of the draw. The risk is not worth it.
Omicron may have lesser propensity for lung involvement, but it's not zero. We see people getting seriously ill. We see deaths. It's luck of the draw. The risk is not worth it.
https://twitter.com/vincentrk/status/1468951762581082120
The high transmissibility of omicron spells trouble just from the sheer number of cases.
You can see how even in Israel where 53% of the population is boosted, patients in hospital and ICUs climb to prior wave levels when cases are so high.
You can see how even in Israel where 53% of the population is boosted, patients in hospital and ICUs climb to prior wave levels when cases are so high.
Finally, while I'm grateful that deaths & hospitalizations are lower relative to cases, omicron doesn't affect only those it infects. It affects us all. A rapid rise in cases overwhelms hospitals & affects care for all other illnesses. HCW infections leads to staff shortages.
Why are breakthrough infections occurring after vaccination?
Partly because vaccine efficacy especially after 2 doses wanes. It still protects a lot against severe disease but infections occur. And partly because the virus has mutated a lot & has become vaccine evasive.
Partly because vaccine efficacy especially after 2 doses wanes. It still protects a lot against severe disease but infections occur. And partly because the virus has mutated a lot & has become vaccine evasive.
This is the same reason why prior Covid doesn't prevent infections either. Countries with high prior Covid rates are still getting high omicron rates.
Hard to predict the future. But I hope we don't run into variants like omicron and delta again. It's exhausting.
Hard to predict the future. But I hope we don't run into variants like omicron and delta again. It's exhausting.
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