Omicron: What are the symptoms of the latest COVID variant and should we be worried?
I sent this to my friend in the UK last night. She's a bit into conspiracies and antivax as well.
In a nutshell, while Omicron seems to be more transmissible than previous variants, with a higher rate of reinfection following prior infection, its severity relative to prior variants seems less (fewer hospital admissions and a lower proportion of high care and ICU admissions compared to previous waves). In addition, vaccination remains effective in protecting against severe COVID-19 and consequent hospital admission, underscoring the importance of vaccinating and getting boosters (or third jabs) as soon as they become available to the public (already being administered) to frontline workers. Importantly, these preliminary findings relate to the very early period of the Omicron outbreak and could change with the extension of the wave.
While we are witnessing a steep trajectory of new infections, indicating Omicronโs rapid spread, we are also seeing a flatter trajectory of hospital admissions, indicating lower severity.
With much hope that we are now moving into a different phase of the pandemic. I am optimistic that if we achieve widespread vaccination, we can stave off the worst impacts of the pandemic, curbing loss of life and advancing the country's (and the world) recovery.
...except off course for those who have medical conditions which any type of vaccine would be a danger to them. The rest have no excuse except their harping on pro-choice