| Omicron Is Headed Our Way… |
I hope that everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! It looks like the new Omicron COVID-19 variant will be hitting Florida hard within the next 30 days, so I just want everyone to be ready. |
| HOW OMICRON SEEMS TO BE DIFFERENT: *Key Take-Aways: 1. Omicron is more contagious 2. A surge may come early January 3. Getting a booster vaccination is now more important Omicron Is Already In 47 States Omicron already accounts for 13% of COVID cases in the states of New York and New Jersey. A Florida Surge Is Probably Coming Early January This is according the largest hospital group in America, HCA. This means that cases will be on the rise during Christmas. Two Times More Contagious Than The Delta Variant You probably heard that Delta was much more contagious than the earlier COVID strains, well Omicron is even more contagious! Practically, this means that it will take less contact with a sick person to contract Omicron. Omicron will spread faster through our businesses, schools, and families. A Shorter Incubation Period The “incubation period” is the how long it takes someone to show symptoms after they catch the virus from someone. Delta was quicker than earlier variants, and Omicron is even faster. With Omicron, people are showing symptoms within 1 to 4 days. On the bright side, this means we won’t have to sit around waiting after exposures. But this also means that large populations of people will all be getting sick at the same time, which could be overwhelming for our healthcare system. Possibly Less Severe Disease The data out of South Africa (where Omicron seems to have started) suggests that Omicron may not cause as serious disease as earlier variants. But, South Africa’s population is younger, which could be the reason people are less sick than expected. There is also some research showing that Omicron divides very fast in the nose, but slower than previous variants in lungs (so less breathing problems). Let’s hope that this early information is all true and Omicron turns out to be less severe. Vaccines Continue To Prevent Serious Illness While our current vaccines are not as effective against Omicron, they still seem to be preventing hospitalizations and serious disease (but they may prevent transmission if with a booster dose). Being “Fully Vaccinated” (2 Pfizer or Moderna shots or 1 J&J) Does Not Prevent Infection OR Transmission of Omicron There are many documented cases of fully vaccinated people contracting Omicron and quickly infecting other people. But again, vaccines are still doing a good job at preventing serious disease. But, getting a booster shot can boost a person’s antibodies to the level that may prevent infection and transmission. A Vaccine Booster Is Even More Important A booster dose (a third dose of the Moderna or Pfizer mRNA vaccine) appears to increase antibody levels to the 80 to 90% effectiveness range for Omicron, possibly preventing infection and transmission. This has led several countries to recommend earlier booster dosing. The CDC currently recommends that a booster be given 6 months after the 2nd mRNA vaccine, but the UK (England) is now recommending adults receive a booster 2 months after the 2nd Moderna or 2nd Pfizer vaccine. Israel is now recommending a 4th dose. The CDC says that the booster dose can be from either vaccine (mixing and matching is okay for a booster dose). The CDC currently recommends that immunocompromised individuals receive a 3rd Pfizer or Moderna vaccine 28 days after their 2nd shot. The CDC is calling this an “Additional Primary Shot” For those whom initially received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, the CDC is recommending a booster dose of Pfizer of Moderna two months after their J&J shot. How To Be Prepared At Home Dr. Sparks and I will always be available for our members, but you may want to order rapid home COVID test kits and a pulse oximeter to use at home–especially for parents, family, and friends. For members, we will have plenty of rapid tests available at the office and send-out 48 hours PCR tests. Should We Change How We Are Living? Every family has their own comfort levels, and we all need to be back in society interacting and socializing. I definitely recommend getting a booster shot ASAP and paying attention to the news. If Omicron surges, there is a good chance many businesses and schools will go back to mask wearing for a temporary period. If you or someone in your family is medically vulnerable, I would consider decreasing your social interaction during the surge. I have been living life more freely, usually without a mask, but I am personally getting ready to go back to masking-up and being more careful with my social interactions. Also remember that masking is much better at preventing sick people from spreading COVID (because the sick person is wearing a mask), than preventing masked people from getting COVID from an unmasked sick person. What About The Holidays? There is a good chance that many of us will be getting together with people who have been exposed to Omicron. I would encourage family members to avoid gatherings if they have cold symptoms, such as fever, cough, sore throat or runny nose, and I would also encourage family members to get tested before gathering together for the holidays. Last, encourage eligible family members to get their booster shots. Vaccines For Ages 6 Months Through 4 Years-Of-Age Are Delayed For several weeks now, children ages 5-11 have been able to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a lower dose (1/3 the adult dose). With Omicron on the horizon, it is more important now than before for children of this age group to be vaccinated. While kids usually get less severe infection than adults, it does seem like with each strain kids are becoming more susceptible to COVID-19. Pfizer released data on its vaccine trial for children ages 6 months to 4 years on Friday. They used 1/10th of the adult dose. There was a good immune response in children ages 6 months through 24 months after 2 doses, but not in children ages 2 to 4 years of age. It appears that Pfizer has decided to add a third dose to all ages, 6 months through 4 years of age, and not try to release the vaccine for any children under 5 until after this trial. I have many families that were really hoping that the 6 month through 4 years-of-age vaccine would be released in January or February of 2022, but I am sad to say that it looks like mid-summer is more realistic, now that Pfizer is adding the third dose to all ages. Still Accepting New Members If you are interested in learning more about my concierge practice, Canopy Pediatrics, please text me at 850-701-9652 or email me at rhoman@canopypediatrics.com |
Hopefully this wave will be shorter than previous waves, since Omicron spreads faster, but let’s also hope that we do not overwhelm our health system!
Dr. Russell Homan, MD
Great post. I was checking constantly this blog and I am impressed! Very useful information specially the last part 🙂 I care for such information a lot. I was seeking this particular info for a very long time. Thank you and good luck.
I think other web-site proprietors should take this website as an model, very clean and magnificent user genial style and design, as well as the content. You’re an expert in this topic!
Hello.This article was really interesting, particularly because I was investigating for thoughts on this topic last Monday.
There is apparently a bunch to realize about this. I feel you made certain nice points in features also.