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November 29, 2021 – Health experts around the world express concerns about the newly discovered version of COVID-19, Omicron, which was first identified in South Africa. The country’s health minister announced last week that the option has already spread to different parts of the country.
The next day, the World Health Organization described Omicron as an “option of concern.”
President Joe Biden echoed the statement at a briefing today, but stressed that the new version was “a cause for concern, not a cause for panic”.
Vaccine manufacturers against COVID-19 are studying the protection of the vaccine against the new variant.
“The mutations in the Omicron variant are alarming and we have been moving as fast as possible for several days to implement our strategy to deal with this variant,” said Stefan Bansel, CEO of Moderna, in a statement.
Pfizer says data on the protection of its vaccine against Omicron should be published in the coming weeks.
A number of countries are working to prevent the global spread of Omicron. The United States is just one of many countries that have imposed new travel restrictions on South Africa and its neighbors.
So what makes Omicron different from other variants of COVID-19? And how much should we be concerned? Health experts are helping us break it down. And go here to learn more about the COVID-19 variants.
What do we know about the Omicron variant so far?
There are many things we don’t know about Omicron, including whether it causes more severe disease than other options, says Liana Wen, a doctor of medicine, emergency physician and professor of public health at George Washington University.
But what we do know is that this is an option with an unusually large number of mutations or changes in the genetic material of the virus.
Early evidence also suggests that the Omicron variant may spread more easily than other COVID-19 variants, she said.
“This is very worrying because Delta, which is the dominant option here in the United States and around the world, is already extremely contagious. So, if it’s even more contagious, it could replace the Delta option, “Wen said.
Is the Omicron option in the US?
There are currently no reported cases of Omicron in the United States.
Either way, you need to stay calm, says William Schaffner, MD, professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.
“Even here in the United States, the dominant one – 99% of the diseases in your community today – is Delta,” he said.
“And we know that vaccines work against Delta.”
Will COVID-19 vaccines provide sufficient protection against the Omicron variant?
“We don’t know if the large number of mutations makes vaccines less effective against this option,” Wen said.
“Although many scientists believe – especially with booster injections – that this will not make vaccines ineffective.
What are the general symptoms of the Omicron variant?
We don’t have that information yet, Wen says.
With so many still unknown, what can I do right now to protect my family and me from the Omicron variant?
If you’re still weighing whether you should get vaccinated against COVID-19, the Omicron variant is one of the main reasons to get vaccinated as soon as possible, Wen said.
“This includes adolescents and children aged 5 to 11.”
This is also a great time to get your COVID-19 booster, according to Schaffner.
Booster vaccines increase your antibody levels, offering you both longer protection and a stronger immune response against COVID-19 variants, he says.
“I can’t tell you exactly what [a booster shot] will do against Omicron, but will probably have at least partial protection, “said Schaefer.
“And partial protection is always better than no protection.”
What should I be most concerned about with the Omicron option?
The spread of the virus, the serious disease and the effectiveness of the vaccine work hand in hand. Therefore, all three are concerned, says Wen.
“Let’s say something is more portable, but it doesn’t cause a more serious illness, and vaccines work very well against it. That’s not a big deal, “Wen said.
“Or, if something isn’t very contagious, but still more severe, it’s not so disturbing either, because it won’t displace Delta.”
“So really a combination of these factors can make this option very disturbing.”
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